Bribery is an act of giving something like money ,etc to
someone so as to influence that person's views or conduct.
Bribery is the
act of offering or accepting something of value ( giving money or gift giving ), in a situation where the person who accepts the
bribe is expected to perform a service which goes beyond his or her normal job
description ,that alters the behavior of the recipient.
The bribe is the gift bestowed to influence the recipient's conduct. It may be any money, good,right in action, property, preferment, privilege, emolument, object of value, advantage, or merely a promise or undertaking to induce or influence the action, vote, or influence of a person in an official or public capacity.
In economics, the bribe has been described as rent. Bribery in bureaucracy has been viewed as a reason for the higher cost of production of goods and services.
A person who asks
for or receives a bribe is considered as equally guilty as the person who
offers it. Bribery is considered a crime by most governments.
For
example, a motorist being ticketed for parking in the wrong place might offer a
bribe to the police officer to ask him or her to tear up the ticket. In many
regions of the world, bribery is considered a crime, and it can be severely
punished.
In
other areas, bribery is more socially acceptable, which can place a heavy
burden on those in the lower ranks of society, as they cannot afford to bribe
officials in the style to which they are accustomed.
Any
number of things can be used as a bribe. While money is a classic bribe, bribes
can also be more intangible, and they might include things like offers of real estate,
valuable objects, or a promise to perform a particular service in the future.
In
order to be considered a bribe, the object of value must be offered and
accepted with the understanding that the person who accepts the bribe will be
doing something in return. This differentiates bribes from gifts offered in
genuine good will, and also distinguishes bribery from tipping, a practice in
which gifts are offered in return for good service.
In regions where
officials are particularly corrupt, they may come to expect “grease money” to
perform tasks which are actually part of their job descriptions, such as
reviewing visa applications or inspecting materials being brought through
customs. In these instances, people from regions where bribery is illegal may
be allowed to offer grease money, with the understanding that otherwise, the task
will never be accomplished.
Bribery can be on a very
thin line, and cultural differences can sometimes lead to confusion. In some
cultures, for example, offering a tip may be considered a bribe, while in
others, a failure to tip would be construed as offensive.
The complex Middle
Eastern tradition of baksheesh is an example of a confusing situation;
baksheesh is not viewed as bribery in the Middle East ,
and in fact a well-established system of bribery exists in some Middle Eastern
countries, and it is entirely differentiated from baksheesh by local citizens.
Depending on regional
laws, bribery can be prosecuted and punished with fines, jail time, or
compensation. Especially in countries which are based on egalitarian ideals,
bribery is often viewed as especially offensive, since it erases the illusion
that all members of society are equal when someone can essentially buy the
favors or skills of someone else with the right bribe.
