Fifteen percent of chief financial officers around the world arewilling to make cash payments to win or retain business, accordingto a survey of executives interviewed by the accounting firm Ernst& Young LLP.

The firm's annual “global fraud survey” of 400 finance chiefs,interviewed from November to February, found a greater tolerance ofbribery compared with the previous year, when 9 percent said theywould make cash payments. Five percent of CFOs said they wouldmisstate financial performance, while 3 percent said that the yearbefore, according to the survey.

“One of the most troubling findings of the survey is thewidespread acceptance of unethical business practices,” accordingto the survey released yesterday. “It is particularly alarming thatrespondents are increasingly willing to make cash payments” andmisstate results to survive an economic downturn.