Problem:
I am in charge of trying to secure a contract for the sale of U.S. telecommunications equipment worth about $40 million to the communications and transport ministry of a Latin American country. European firms are also eager for the contract. Quality differences in the products of the various suppliers are not important. A local accountant, who has helped me with government negotiations in the past, suggests to me that the company might receive the contract if it were willing to deposit $2 million in the Swiss bank account of the general in charge of the ministry.
Should I? Would I reconsider if I worked for a European firm?