+1<p>Italian here. It&#x27;s not just corruption here but almost every social interaction is built as an exchange of favours. From having a job to not getting screwed from the auto shop, you live off a network of people owing you and you get in their circles by owing them back. It&#x27;s a very powerful system because everyone understands the honour it&#x27;s based on, you can&#x27;t track it because it&#x27;s immaterial and it&#x27;s so widespread that you get huge pressure to cave in and become part of the system.