Exploring one of the darker sides of expatriation: Chinese expatriates’ experiences with petty corruption in Tanzania

Miao, C. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7938-3400 and Brewster, C. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5314-1518 (2026) Exploring one of the darker sides of expatriation: Chinese expatriates’ experiences with petty corruption in Tanzania. International Business Review, 35 (1). ISSN 1873-6149 doi: 10.1016/j.ibusrev.2025.102530

Abstract/Summary

Drawing on institutional isomorphism and Bourdieu’s concept of capital, this ethnographic study provides a comprehensive examination of how institutional pressures interact with individual capital (linguistic, cultural and social) to shape expatriates’ behaviours in dealing with local petty corruption practices. We find that co- ercive isomorphism is often intensified by a lack of local linguistic capital, mimetic isomorphism is reinforced by uncertainty in a foreign environment, and normative isomorphism is shaped by norms and expectations origi- nating from both the host and home countries, rather than being solely rooted in the local environment. Our findings highlight the critical role of individual capital as a moderator of institutional responses. By bridging macro-level neo-institutional theory and micro-level practices, this study deepens our understanding of how expatriates’ behaviour is shaped by both broader institutional environments and the personal resources they bring to their host country.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/id/eprint/127165
Identification Number/DOI	10.1016/j.ibusrev.2025.102530
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Henley Business School > International Business and Strategy
Publisher	Elsevier
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