In the US, the risks from bribery outweigh the rewards. In India, if you don't bribe, you may not get your water turned back on. And if you don't accept the br

In the US, the risks from bribery outweigh the rewards. In India, if you don't bribe, you may not get your water turned back on. And if you don't accept the bribe, you may not be able to put food on the table because your low salary implicitly expects you to take the bribe. In that sense, a bribe is more of a tip. I have heard plenty of stories of people in India being pulled over by cops only to slow down the car, roll down the window and slip a bill equivalent to $1-$4 without ever stopping the car.