The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), a U.S. law enacted in 1977, combats international corruption by prohibiting companies from bribing foreign officials to gain business advantages. This ensures a fair playing field for honest businesses while restoring public trust in the marketplace. 

The FCPA mandates accurate record-keeping by publicly traded corporations to foster transparency and accountability. Corruption’s detrimental effects extend far beyond businesses, weakening democratic institutions, eroding public trust, and diverting resources from crucial areas like healthcare, education, and infrastructure. When companies win contracts through bribes instead of merit, honest businesses suffer, and consumers ultimately lose.