Mapping ESG and CSR literature: a bibliometric study of research trends and emerging themes

Ritu Rani, Prihana Vasishta, Anju Singla and Nidhi Tanwar

International Journal of Law and Management, 2025, vol. 68, issue 4, 601-627

Abstract: PurposeWith growing global emphasis on sustainability, environmental, social and governance (ESG) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become a key focus for businesses striving to balance profit with social and environmental responsibility. The purpose of this study is to analyze the publication trends, influential sources, authors and countries on ESG literature as well as highlighting future research themes and directions in ESG and CSR domain.Design/methodology/approachThis study examined 783 documents published between 2008 and 2024 from two major databases including Scopus and Web of Science by using Biblioshiny (R Studio) and VOSviewer for thematic analysis and network cluster analysis, respectively.FindingsThe findings demonstrate significant growth in ESG and CSR research, with an upward publication metrics and citation rates. The highest numbers of publications are from developed countries such as USA, China and UK and key journals include Finance Research Letters and Journal of Sustainable Finance and Investment. The cluster analyses identified five key clusters: Transforming Responsible Investing into ESG Investment, Nexus of ESG Practices, Financial Outcomes and Stakeholder Engagement, Aligning ESG Practices with Technological Innovation, Governance and Ethics in Sustainability: CSR-Driven Reporting Practices and ESG Integration and Financial Sustainability.Originality/valueThis study delineates a comprehensive bibliometric analysis by using a unique diverse keyword search strategy to encompass various aspects of ESG literature and filling gaps in previous studies that relied on limited databases and search query.

Keywords: ESG; Environmental social and governance; CSR; Corporate social responsibility; Bibliometric analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eme:ijlmap:ijlma-09-2024-0301

DOI: 10.1108/IJLMA-09-2024-0301

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