They still bribe principals and teachers. It's expected you give gifts.

We used to bring apples to school for the teacher in America, but never thought of it as a bribe.

So just like India now, got it.

Russian here. That's probably just what you or your family did because my parents didn't have any need to bribe people on your list.

Why on earth would anyone bribe a mailman?

So you get your mail and your packages in one piece, unopened and on time?

-:) (Not to knock twice ?)

Psst, younglings. He's referring to this - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Postman_Always_Rings_Twice_...

I mailed a package to Russia about 5 years ago. Recipient had to pay a bribe to get it.

He probably just wanted to avoid paying customs duty.

In India postmen also can gauge the contents of the letter or document. For example, they can recognize US college acceptance letters for students trying for further studies. Many of them will then ask for gifts for delivering the good news.

yes the mailman! Here's what happen when you don't "sweet the deal" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1pUm_ApNtU

So they don't steal your mail?

Actually, in Soviet Union you did not have any reason to bribe any of them.

> Actually, in Soviet Union you did not have any money to bribe any of them.

Fixed.

That's not right at all. The people of the Soviet Union had the money through most of the country's history; however, they often couldn't easily exchange that money for useful, quality goods like food, kitchenware, furniture or cars [1] without the proper connections and bribery. Bribes were often (perhaps mostly) not payed in money, either.

See:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_ruble#Economic_role

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shortage_economy

https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Товарный_дефицит_в_СССР (http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=ru&tl=en&js...)

[1] As opposed to less useful goods like political books with titles along the lines of "The Proceedings of the Nth Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union", which were plenty, and which you sometimes had to buy by the dozen in order for the salesperson to agree to sell you a few more desirable books.

Interesting. I will admit I was going shamelessly for a laugh there.