Bribing officials ‘is a first world problem’

The shady world of corrupt government and ruthless companies bribing them to win lucrative contracts is normally associated with the third world.

But the first detailed report on the practice, just produced by the OECD, has produced some “eye popping surprises”, according to the body’s head, Angel Gurria, involving 15 of the G20, the world’s richest countries.

It reveals that first world companies are bribing first world state and semi-state officials and politicians to win public contracts, and the corruption goes right to the top.