RJ and Makay

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The International Bribe Payers Index 2011, a joint publication of Reuters and Transparency International, shows that “bribing public officials when doing business abroad is a regular occurrence.”  The index is based on a survey of more than 3000 business executives from developed and developing countries.

In a newly issued report, the Deloitte Center for Financial Services predicts that total global wealth of millionaire households in 25 major economies will more than double by the end of this decade to $202 trillion from $92 trillion this year.

Millionaire wealth in emerging economies could grow by 260%, while in developing nations, a rise of 107 % is expected.

You'd never expect it because of the economy, but there are actually more billionaires — 199 more, to be exact — than last year.

According to Forbes magazine's annual billionaire headcount, there are now 1,210 billionaires worldwide. The top three on the list are the same as last year: Mexican media mogul Carlos Slim ($74 billion), Microsoft founder Bill Gates ($53 billion), and Investor Warren Buffet ($50 billion). However, all of the list's newcomers are from outside the U.S. and reside mainly in BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China), reflecting dramatic change in the global economy.