Mapping the landscape of environmental, social and governance research: A bibliometric analysis

Abstract

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policies have increased to the forefront of global discourse, appealing to the consideration of international and national institutes alike. To stay ahead of the curve and build long‐term competitive advantage, companies must prioritize proactive ESG research and integrate its findings into their strategies. Additionally, comprehensive ESG research is crucial to inform effective policy interventions that address pressing environmental, social, and governance issues. This article leverages Scopus data to conduct a bibliometric analysis of ESG research from 2007 to 2022, aiming to map the field's intellectual landscape and identify key themes driving its current state. The study highlights the top contributors, institutions, and journals that have focused on ESG issues. Moreover, it examines co‐citation networks, collaboration networks, and keyword co‐occurrences, which provides a comprehensive overview of intellectual structure. This study contributes to the understanding of the ESG research landscape and provides insights for future research directions.