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Reader question: Please explain this passage and, in particular, “their side of the bargain” (Business in India: The price of graft, The Economist, March 24, 2011): Even so, India is home to an unusually pernicious form of corruption, argues Jahangir Aziz of JPMorgan. Elsewhere graft may be a fairly efficient way to do business: investors who pay bribes in China may at least be confident of what they will get in return. In India, however, too many crooked officials demand cash but fail to deliver their side of the bargain. Uncertainty, not just the cost of the “graft tax”, may be the biggest deterrent of all. My comments: I don’t know if this is a greater insult/compliment to Indian businesses or Chinese, but the important question concerning us here is whether one “delivers their side of the bargain”. But first, bargain. Which essentially means a cheap deal, something you get for less than its usual value. You go to the market at Xiushui in Beijing, for example, to buy a wrist watch. One vendor who sells imported watches catches your eye. Counterfeit watches they are as a matter of fact, and you know it. You make an initial inquiry. The vendor says: “Three hundred kuai.” You go away. The vendor calls you back. “Name your price.” You turn back and ask again: “How much is this you say?” The vendor says: “Three hundred. If you’re serious to buy, you can have it for 200.” | 
