It is used to describe the act of offering an illicit payment or undue advantage.

It relates to the acceptance or solicitation of such a payment or advantage.

It occurs when government officials, whether higher or lower ranking, illegitimately receive or accumulate an undue advantage for their own personal use, disregarding public interest.

Grand corruption (political corruption)

Petty corruption (bureaucratic corruption)

It exists where a public or government official acts without consideration for the public’s interest, the goal being to attain a specific and personal gain.

It involves a public official (whether domestic or foreign) as one party to the corrupt act.

It involves only individuals in the private sector (which is why it is sometimes called “private-to-private corruption”)

It exists where corruption is pervasive or entrenched in a society. In other words, it exists where it is routine in dealings between the government and private individuals or businesses.

It exists when corruption is rare or consists of a few individual acts.