Scientific evolution of Corporate Social Responsibility. A bibliometric analysis with mapping analysis tools

Area of Science:

• Business and Management
• Sustainability Studies

Background:

• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) encompasses diverse concepts like sustainability, lacking a unified theory.
• Understanding CSR's evolution and research landscape is crucial for academic and practical advancement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the current situation and trends in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) research.
• To map the intellectual structure and identify key thematic areas within CSR.

Main Methods:

• Bibliometric analysis to assess research performance and productivity.
• Scientific mapping to extract and classify dominant research topics in CSR.

Main Results:

• The study reveals the conceptual evolution of CSR research from 1978 to 2017.
• Identified key thematic areas: Financial Performance, Corporate Reputation, Ethics, Consumers, Employees, and Risk.
• Demonstrated significant growth potential and development in CSR research.

Conclusions:

• CSR research is a dynamic and expanding field with diverse thematic intersections.
• The identified themes provide a framework for future CSR scholarship and practice.