Foreign bribery results in an inefficient allocation of resources and economic distortions. It is also a threat to democracy, corrosive of good governance and an impediment to economic development. This fact sheet provides information about the consequences for individuals and companies who bribe or attempt to bribe and the broader, far-reaching effects of foreign bribery on democratic institutions and governmental stability.

Remuneration and promotion structures are one of the most powerful ways that companies communicate their values and priorities to staff. Section nine of the Austrade publication "Anti-bribery and Corruption (ABC): A guide for Australians doing business overseas" gives a simple overview of how compliance, risk management and ethical behavior can be reinforced through incentive structures (and how the wrong behaviors can also be reinforced). This resource is part of Austrade’s “Guide to exporting”.

A common perception is that bribery is required to succeed in business. This article helps managers to challenge that perception by setting out four practical strategies for businesses to prevent bribery. These include putting a resistance plan in place, building the cost of avoiding bribery into business projections, avoiding markets with high bribery risk and modifying performance-based incentives.