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Tipping, for the most part, has a positive connotation. 

But according to a new working paper from Harvard Business School Professor Magnus Thor Torfason and Stanford's Francis J. Flynn, there's a surprisingly thin line between a tip and a bribe. 

Their study of 32 countries found a significant positive relationship between tipping and bribery, even when controlling for economic factors like income inequality and GDP. 

Why? The authors write:

"In a sense, both are gifts intended to strengthen social bonds and each is offered in conjunction with advantageous service. One could even argue that the main difference between the two acts is merely the timing of the gift: Tips follow the rendering of a service, whereas bribes precede it."

There is a time distinction between a tip and a bribe, and also a moral distinction. However, follow up studies suggested that many people see tipping as a transaction purchasing future service (a "prospective orientation"), rather than as something altruistic, a reward for good service (a "retrospective orientation").

That's when the moral and time line between tipping and bribes blurs, which helps explains the surprising results of the study.

The connection was highest in some more corrupt countries, including India and Venezuela.

Here's their graph of the companies most inclined to tip (and bribe): 


Find the full paper here 

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