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Tracking habitus across a transnational professional field

Author

Listed:
  • Crawford Spence

    (Warwick Business School, UK)

  • Chris Carter

    (The University of Edinburgh, UK)

  • Ataur Belal

    (Aston University, UK)

  • Javier Husillos

    (University of Strathclyde, UK)

  • Claire Dambrin

    (ESCP Europe, France)

  • Pablo Archel

    (Universidad Pública de Navarra, Spain)

Abstract

The sociology of the professions has shied away from cross-national comparative work. Yet research in different professional jurisdictions emphasizes the transnational nature of professional fields. Further work is therefore needed that explores the extent to which transnational professional fields are characterized by unity or heterogeneity. To that end, this article presents the results of a qualitative interrogation of the habitus of partners in ‘Big 4’ professional service firms across, primarily, five countries (Bangladesh, Canada, France, Spain and the UK). Marked differences are observed between the partner habitus in Bangladesh and the other countries studied in terms of entrepreneurial and public service dispositions. In turn, these findings highlight the methodological relevance of habitus for both the sociology of the professions and comparative capitalism literatures: for the former, habitus aids in mapping the dynamics of transnational professional fields; for the latter, habitus can elucidate the informal norms and conventions of national business systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Crawford Spence & Chris Carter & Ataur Belal & Javier Husillos & Claire Dambrin & Pablo Archel, 2016. "Tracking habitus across a transnational professional field," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 30(1), pages 3-20, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:woemps:v:30:y:2016:i:1:p:3-20
    DOI: 10.1177/0950017015574824
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Paul Gillis & Richard Petty & Roy Suddaby, 2014. "The transnational regulation of accounting: insights, gaps and an agenda for future research," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 27(6), pages 894-902, July.
    2. Paul Gillis & Richard Petty & Roy Suddaby, 2014. "The transnational regulation of accounting: insights, gaps and an agenda for future research," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing, vol. 27(5), pages 894-902.
    3. Annisette, Marcia, 2000. "Imperialism and the professions: the education and certification of accountants in Trinidad and Tobago," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 25(7), pages 631-659, October.
    4. James T. Walker & Christopher Brewster & Geoff Wood, 2014. "Diversity between and within varieties of capitalism: transnational survey evidence," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 23(2), pages 493-533.
    5. Arnold, Patricia J., 2005. "Disciplining domestic regulation: the World Trade Organization and the market for professional services," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 30(4), pages 299-330, May.
    6. Anderson-Gough, Fiona & Grey, Christopher & Robson, Keith, 2001. "Tests of time: organizational time-reckoning and the making of accountants in two multi-national accounting firms," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 26(2), pages 99-122, March.
    7. Julia Evetts, 2002. "New Directions in State and International Professional Occupations: Discretionary Decision-making and Acquired Regulation," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 16(2), pages 341-353, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kelly Thomson & Joanne Jones, 2017. "Precarious Professionals: (in)Secure Identities and Moral Agency in Neocolonial Context," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 146(4), pages 747-770, December.

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