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The West tolerates corruption with one or two layers of indirection. Revolving door, speaking fees, campaign contributions, nonprofit donations. These kinds of corruption are not banned by the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, but direct graft is.

Corruption really interferes with the proper functioning of markets. Does indirection lessen the effect?

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It would hard to imagine a society without corruption. But as an Indian, with my experience staying in California for a few years the overall corruption is just no way comparable to the Asian third world countries like India.

If US were to be as corrupt as India, imagine the DMV employees asking for a $500 bribe just for a State Id Card. Or asking for bribes for as little as a $50 bribe to even issue a form at the Social Security Office.

That's like just the beginning of it.

But this kind of direct corruption is so uncivilized. Look how shocked the civilized world is at this atrocious practice. Don't they know they can't maintain the facade of law abiding democratic society if they can't even hide their corruption properly.

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