Bribery lies at the core of international criminal activity. Terrorists, money-launderers and smugglers pay bribes. Those who traffic in people, narcotics, and illegal arms pay immigration officers not to ask, customs officials not to inspect, and police officers not to investigate.
Drawing on her travels in more than seventy countries, Alexandra Wrage has gathered these stories of bribe solicitation, collusion and resistance. She peels back the mystique to expose the damage bribery inflicts on societies, corporations and individuals. She shows how bribes undermine good corporate governance, but also how they undercut security and the prospects for democracy in all countries.
Wrage covers all aspects of bribery and extortion both at high levels of government and on "the street." Her book concludes with a survey of current efforts to reduce bribery and practical suggestions for how to restore transparency to transactions in all realms.