> I always cringe when people use Germany as an example of a society that doesn't have a lot of corruption
It is definitely interesting how perception works both inside and outside a given actor/nation. What I found illuminating was learning about the German bribery tax break[1][2].
Often when a country has a reputation for low rates of corruption, it is because corruption has been concentrated in fewer hands--wholesale, not retail--and the transactions are correspondingly larger.
In such places, retail-level corruption can be seen as competition with the market dominator, and crushed.
In the US, offering and accepting political bribery have both been officially decriminalized. The profit ratio of bribe to private benefit is typically well over 1000x.
In such places, retail-level corruption can be seen as competition with the market dominator, and crushed.
In the US, offering and accepting political bribery have both been officially decriminalized. The profit ratio of bribe to private benefit is typically well over 1000x.