“…Underpinned by classical sociological theory (Durkheim, 1933), two camps can be distinguished. Institutionalists argue that the further an economy develops and the further formal institutions stabilize, the further the need to use informal channels may disappear (Chang, 2011;Cheng, Wang, & Huang, 2009;Fan, 2002;Gu, Hung, & Tse, 2008;Guthrie, 1998;Hutchings & Weir, 2006;Ledeneva, 2003;Peng et al, 2008;Wang, 2007;Wilson & Brennan, 2010). The opposing camp assumes informal social networks are deeply engrained into a culture, thus will persist as culture is a rather rigid construct that will not change quickly (Hofstede, 2007).…”