---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In poor countries, officials receive…"
description: "\"In poor countries, officials receive explicit bribes; in D.C. they get the sophisticated, implicit, unspoken promise to work for large corporations\" — ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/889/nassim-nicholas-taleb-352_bribe_in-poor-countries-officials-receive-expl_2631479.jpg"
---

#  In poor countries, officials receive explicit bribes; in…

![“In poor countries, officials receive explicit bribes; in D.C. they get the sophisticated, implicit, unspoken promise to work for large corporations” quote by Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/889/nassim-nicholas-taleb-352_bribe_in-poor-countries-officials-receive-expl_2631479.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/889/nassim-nicholas-taleb-352_bribe_in-poor-countries-officials-receive-expl_2631479.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/889/nassim-nicholas-taleb-352_bribe_in-poor-countries-officials-receive-expl_2631479.jpg)

> “In poor countries, officials receive explicit bribes; in D.C. they get the sophisticated, implicit, unspoken promise to work for large corporations”

[Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Corruption varies: overt bribes in poor nations, covert promises in wealthy societies.

**In simple terms:** Corruption looks different in rich vs. poor places.

Key Takeaway

Recognize hidden influence in policy.

Themes

politics corruption power inequality

Mood

cynical critical

Type

political analytical

When to use this quote

- government contracts
- legislation
- corporate lobbying
- public trust

Key Concepts

institutional capture ethical decay elite influence

Questions to Reflect On

- How do hidden promises shape lawmaking?
- What safeguards can expose covert influence?

A Different Perspective

Implicit deals can be harder to prove and combat.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bribe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bribe/) [Bribes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bribes/) [Corporations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporations/) [Corporatism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporatism/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Poor countries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-countries/) [Promise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promise/)

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