In 1999 my wife’s cousin opened of all things a strip club in Moscow. He lived in the US for 25 years.
At age 43 he said it was easier to deal with the Russians (he is Hungarian and HATES the Russians), than it was to deal with the folks here at home. There were less payoffs, you knew where you stood, less taxes, and if you just greased the right palms (of which were made perfectly clear to him), you could do well.
He tried to expand into Pizza joints, Chicago style, but was told :”no way”. He appreciated that, the honesty and upfront attitude.
Here in the US, he would get the run-a-round, and have to pay for “community improvements”, “community water improvements”, and “land discretion”. At least he said, in Russia, he knew he was just buying off politicians.
Last year, my wife told me he made about 3 million bucks, and paid 30,000k in taxes. Plus about 50k in bribes.
At least in Russia, you know where you stand.
They call bribes political contributions here, but it amounts to the same thing.
By the way did you see the list of companies who wrote and asked Congress to approve of their slave labor wages and illegal slaves to service them?