Business bribery

Nature

Although bribes and influence peddling have always been part of the international and local business scenes for thousands of years, sophisticated business cheating is on the increase. It is not only the criminal elements involved in bribery but well-placed individuals, high government officials and reputable corporations. It is a global problem caused by greed. Relegation of religious and ethical values to the background, the desire for material wealth and glorification of unethical practices through the media have all made their contributions. Profit has become an end in itself. Public relation campaigns with their business junkets, gifts to potential buyers or legislators, donations to political parties have turned grey and debatable ethical considerations. Ethical judgements are nearly impossible. A history of bribery and influence peddling during the colonial period or the purposes of maintaining power and profiteering eroded the ethics of both the colonial power and the colony. Object poverty set in the daily context on the media of wealth and power further erode ethical standards.

Incidence

Business bribery remains a pervasive issue affecting both developed and developing economies, with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimating that over $1 trillion is paid in bribes globally each year. The problem undermines fair competition, distorts markets, and erodes public trust in institutions, with high-profile cases regularly emerging across sectors such as construction, energy, and pharmaceuticals.
In 2022, a major bribery scandal surfaced in South Africa involving the global consulting firm Bain & Company, which was accused of paying bribes to secure lucrative government contracts during the country’s state capture era, highlighting the ongoing risks of corporate corruption.