Final answer:
The kickback scandal involving Petrobras and top politicians led to severe public relations problems for the company, hurting its reputation and trust among stakeholders.
Step-by-step explanation:
Officials at Brazil's state-owned oil company, Petrobras, and top politicians were accused of collaborating with contractors to receive billions in kickbacks. This resulted in public relations problems for Petrobras. When controversies arise due to the interaction between prices and quantities established by demand and supply, especially for essential products, the public may exert pressure on politicians. This pressure can lead to legislative measures to prevent product prices from reaching extremes. However, in the case of Petrobras, the scandal went beyond pricing issues to encompass ethics and legality, leading to severe damage to the company's reputation and trustworthiness among stakeholders and the public at large.