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State-owned enterprises: A bibliometric review and research agenda

Author

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  • Curi, Claudia
  • Mancuso, Paolo
  • Scarpa, Alessandro

Abstract

This paper presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of research on state-owned enterprises (SOEs) from 1994 to 2024. Using data from top-tier journals, we identify four major research themes: determinants of SOEs’ performance, corporate finance, corporate governance, and globalization. We identify key trends, research gaps, and emerging areas of interest, such as the intersection of sustainability and SOE governance. Our findings highlight that, while performance and corporate finance remain central topics, sustainability-related research is still nascent. The analysis suggests that future research should explore the integration of sustainability into SOE governance frameworks and financial strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Curi, Claudia & Mancuso, Paolo & Scarpa, Alessandro, 2025. "State-owned enterprises: A bibliometric review and research agenda," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:74:y:2025:i:c:s1544612325000145
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2025.106749
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    State-owned enterprises; Privatization; Corporate governance; Sustainability;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance
    • G39 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Other
    • Q01 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - General - - - Sustainable Development
    • L33 - Industrial Organization - - Nonprofit Organizations and Public Enterprise - - - Comparison of Public and Private Enterprise and Nonprofit Institutions; Privatization; Contracting Out

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