The payment of bribes to public officials is widespread, even though it is illegal.  The U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) outlaws the payment of bribes by U.S. firms to foreign public officials. In recent years U.S. officials have ramped up enforcement of the law.   In 2007 the U.S. Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) undertook 38 FCPA enforcement actions, more than doubling the fifteen governmental actions taken in 2006...