While on a foreign trip a government official of country A was visiting the penthouse apartment of his friend B, a bureaucrat of a poor country.

After A admired the fine residence and furnishings he says: "Be honest B, I know that with your official salary you cannot possibly afford this, what gives?" Taking his friend to the window B replies "See that superhighway running through town? 10 percent."

Some time later B had the occasion to visit the even poorer country of his friend A and found himself in an even larger and more luxuriously appointed penthouse apartment. Says B, "I know your official salary must be even lower than mine, yet your house is much nicer, what gives?"

Taking his friend to the window A pointed out and said "See that superhighway running out into the jungle?" After straining his eyes for a minute B replies "But there is no highway out there."

"Exactly," says A with a wink, "100 percent."