The Fine line between bribe and gift 1

The Fine Line Between A Bribe and A Gift

Course: TOUR 326 – Advanced Topics in Cross-Cultural Tourism

Instructor: Susan Christie-Bell

Capilano University

Written by: Ayush James

Student ID: 100143526

June,16,2019
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Introduction

Gifts have been a part of a majority of social and cultural interactions that take place across the

globe for a very long period of time. The notion or idea behind gift giving has always been noble

however its perception may vary from country to country or culture to culture based on their be-

liefs, norms, and ideologies. It is a fine line that distinguishes how a gift may be perceived as a

gift or as an inappropriate proceeding which may, in other words, be referred to as a bribe. This

issue is most commonly faced in business meetings and transactions so it is important to under-

stand and comprehend the intricate details involved in the act of gift giving while dealing with a

different cultural group to successfully convey our message and not be misinterpreted. This re-

search paper will try to answer the question “When is a bribe a bribe and not a gift?” by analys-

ing various customs of giving and receiving gifts in different countries and communities across

the world.
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Gift Giving in Business

Since it is almost impossible to determine whether an offering is a gift or a bribe, majority of in-

stitutions have some kind of rules and restrictions with regard to gifts ranging from no gift policy

to a restriction on the value of gifts. It is extremely important to know such rules and make sure

your gift wouldn’t be misunderstood as a bribe. A gift can be taken as a bribe based on the local

ideas and vice versa so it can really difficult to classify gifts and bribes under one big umbrella,

for example countries like Malaysia and Paraguay, which are deeply bothered by corruption,

may frown upon any gift that could be interpreted as a bribe. In Malaysia, gifts are only ex-

changed after the establishment of a relationship with an individual. In Singapore, government

employees are not allowed to accept gifts at all, and in the United States , gifts are acceptable

only if its monetary value comes below $25. In China, business policies render any gift as a bribe

and they would not be accepted and can be read as an indecent gesture as the Chinese value loy-

alty and honesty in business. Even though this policy in China is assuaging with times, waiting

until a negotiation is over before presenting a gift would reduce the possibility of it being in-

ferred as a bribe to a minimum. (International Gift Giving - Business Gifts, n.d.)

Gifts and bribes are both socially functional institutions and operate as complex rule systems.

According to anthropologists, both gifts and bribes are informal exchange processes regulated by

multiple (formal and informal) rule systems (Graycar, A., & Jancsics, D,2016).
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The difference between a Bribe and a Gift

By definition, a gift is something given voluntarily without payment in return, as to show fa-

vor toward someone,honor an occasion, or make a gesture of assistance.(Gift,n.d.) Whereas a

bribe is money or any other valuable consideration given or promised with a view to corrupt-

ing the behavior of a person, especially in that person's performance as an athlete, public offi-

cial, etc. (Bribe,n.d.). What can be inferred from these definitions is that the only major differ-

ence between both is intent. Any offering or act of hospitality done with the intention of getting a

return or favour would certainly qualify as a bribe. There are many other factors that come into

play to make any gift a bribe. The timing of the gift is really critical, offering an expensive

watch or securing front row seats for a sporting event for a boss just before an annual appraisal

can definitely be considered unethical. The appropriateness of a gift and its proportionality to the

level of the recipient is also equally crucial. Consider the example of buying the luxury class seat

for the boss by a mid-range manager, that would be certainly disproportionate and inappropriate.

Cross-cultural considerations must also be made while presenting a gift in order to not be inter-

preted as a bribe. A $30 gift may not fall under the lavish or luxury category in the USA but

would be considered an expensive gift in some of the less developed countries around the globe.

In addition to these, what else must be considered while offering a gift is the recipient’s position,

in many countries offering gifts to public officials can arouse suspicion. Sometimes the principle

of reciprocity may be applied to determine the appropriateness of a gift. It’s the ability of the re-

cipient to reciprocate the act of hospitality or return the gift, and if they can’t it may fall under

the tab of bribe. (Irwin,2012)

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Conclusion

Having analysed the differences between a gift and a bribe, and looked at a few factors to be

considered while offering a gift in a business atmosphere it can be concluded that with careful

understanding of cross cultural differences, local customs and law, professional competency and

thorough understanding of the base of the cultural ice-berg of a community the problem of being

misinterpreted in a gift giving scenario can be minimized and can further lead to the building of a

healthy, mutually respectful relationship. Apart from this the value of the gift and the position of

the receiver must be taken into account to avoid any chance of being accused of unethical and

illegal acts.
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References

Bribe. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.dictionary.com/browse/bribe?s=t

Gift. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.dictionary.com/browse/gift

Graycar, A., & Jancsics, D. (2016). Gift giving and corruption. International Journal of Public Ad-

ministration,40(12), 1013-1023. doi:10.1080/01900692.2016.1177833

International Gift Giving - Business Gifts. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cyborlink.com/be-

site/international_gift_giving.htm

Irwin, J. (2012, December 18). How corporate gift-giving can be ethical. Retrieved from

http://www.ethicalcorp.com/business-strategy/how-corporate-gift-giving-can-be-ethical