I'm not sure what you mean, though it doesn't surprise me that you'd see that. Could you elaborate on what you mean?

Here in the U.S, people are very much inclined to "look down their noses" at other countries where a "gratuity" is required to get action from government beaurocrats, as they consider that a part of their compensation. Sometimes it's required in order to get preferential treatment. Sometimes it's required in order to get any treatment at all.

I've never, in all my years, encountered a government agency in the U.S. where a bribe is necessary in order to obtain normal processing of a permit, license, or other document. However, I have observed that some government officials, often ones who wouldn't accept a $5000 bribe, are considerably influenced by that $50 bottle of whiskey at Christmas, and put disproportional value on the relationship that the whiskey represents, allowing it to influence their decisions. I'd consider that stupidity rather than corruption. This does not say that there aren't plenty of corrupt people in various places in the government and industry, nor does it say that there aren't many corrupt individuals in the U.S.

RE