Why Does the United States Regulate Foreign Bribery: Moralism, Self-Interest, or Altruism?
17 Pages Posted: 18 Sep 2012 Last revised: 22 Sep 2012
Date Written: July 1, 2012
Abstract
This short essay traces the legislative history of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and its amendments to examine the influence of three distinct motivations: moralism, (economic) self-interest and altruism. The legislative history suggests that moralism and self-interest played the most significant roles in influencing the provisions of the original Act and its 1988 Amendments. Since then altruism has played a more prominent role in shaping the FCPA and other initiatives aimed at foreign bribery. The essay concludes by discussing the potential tension between self-interest and altruism and ways in which it might be resolved.
Keywords: Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, FCPA, bribery
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