"So endemic is African corruption—and so much more destructive than its Asian counterpart—that the comparison has even spawned a common joke that goes like this:
An Asian and an African become friends while they are both attending graduate school in the West. Years later, they each rise to become the finance minister of their respective countries. One day, the African ventures to Asia to visit his old friend, and is startled by the Asian’s palatial home, the three Mercedes-Benzes in the circular drive, the swimming pool, the servants.

"My God!" the African exclaims. "We were just poor students before! How on earth can you now afford all this?"

And the Asian takes his African friend to the window and points to a sparkling new elevated highway in the distance. "You see that toll road?" says the Asian, and then he proudly taps himself on the chest. "Ten percent." And the African nods approvingly."