On the road to legitimacy with anti-corruption practices. An empirical study of French SMEs

Despite the importance of tackling corruption, business scholars have largely ignoredthe topic of anti-corruption. Using neo-institutionalist theory and the typology oforganisational responses to institutional pressures, we investigated why and howsmall- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) implemented anti-corruption practices.Through a case study approach and 34 semi-structured interviews in French SMEs,we revealed the indirect effect of coercive isomorphism of the state and direct norma-tive influence of large firms in business relations with the SMEs. To increase theirlegitimacy, SMEs' strategic response to various and diverse institutional pressures isdivided between substantial and symbolic responses. The main answer of SMEs toinstitutional pressures from large firms was avoidance in relation to anti-corruptionpractices, thereby creating a façade of compliance with no metabolisation of anti-corruption actions. We point out the instrumental use of anti-corruption practices bySMEs to gain legitimacy. To be considered legitimate business partners by largefirms, SMEs showed a façade of respectability in their anti-corruption actions.