What is "incentives"

Usage examples of "incentives".

United States should propose economic and political incentives for Iraq to moderate its behavior and to increase our influence with Iraq.

It the United States were to launch a full-scale invasion of Iraq with the goal of overthrowing his regime, Saddam would have no incentives for restraint and would undoubtedly lash out at us with everything he had.

I want something done, I find the best way to accomplish my goal is to provide decent incentives to those in a position to help me achieve that goal.