Commercial Bribery and Administrative Vetting

Abstract

This article analyzes guanxi-based bribery by using a case of CFDA, China‘s food and drug safety regulator. Guanxi-based bribery is a prominent feature of commercial bribery in oriental societi es. Guanxi is an amalgam of both emoti on and interest. Emotion and interest intermingle with each other and jointly take effect. Interest serves as the vehicle of emotion; emotion serves to rubricate exchanges of interest. To counter guanxi-based bribery, on the one hand, there must be a clear demarcation between public affairs and private connections; on the other hand, increased rationalization of the institutions is urgently needed.