Being from the sub-continent, low-level and bureaucratic corruption is a big pervasive problem. Corruption in general. From the lower office peons to the highest officers the rot runs deep. Bribing to even get basic paperwork done is common. How do countries like China and others in the “First World” handle it?
Is it a culture thing? or something else?
Its just as much corruption its just hidden better. Low level corruption is easily gone from the view if people make a livable wage and the bribe is to little to risk the job. Now if you go up a bit, say you can give a contract to your pal for that new construction etc… its just cash in hand is not there. I bribed cops in some places, once a few cigars got me out of a trafic fine. It don’t happen in rich countries. Why would it they can buy their own cigars and keep their cushy jobs