Problem:
You are the vice president of international operations for a large pharmaceutical firm that manufactures an anti-malarial drug. Your firm is considering opening up a factory in a small Central American nation where malaria is still extremely common. The operation will be a joint venture between your firm and the local government. The majority of the people in that country cannot afford the medicine because of the high import tariffs. Yet if your plan goes through, over 200 jobs will be created and the drug's international price will drop by over 50 percent. In a final meeting with a senior government official, the gentleman informs you that if you pay him $500,000 cash, the deal will go through. What issues must you consider? What do you do?