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Crowdfunding and sustainable development: A systematic review

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  • Carè, Rosella
  • Fatima, Rabia
  • Agnese, Paolo

Abstract

This study employs bibliometric analysis to explore the evolving role of crowdfunding in financing sustainable development goals (SDGs). Analyzing 148 peer-reviewed articles (2014–2024), it identifies key trends, influential contributors, and thematic clusters in academic discourse. Findings reveal a surge in research post-2020, with a focus on entrepreneurial finance, environmental sustainability, and financial innovation. Equity crowdfunding and FinTech emerge as pivotal in bridging sustainability-related funding gaps. Cluster analysis highlights four major research areas: financial innovation's role in sustainability, crowdfunding's contribution to SDGs (especially post-COVID-19), microfinancing and financial inclusion for SMEs, and ESG integration in entrepreneurial finance. Despite these advances, significant research gaps remain, particularly the need for longitudinal studies to assess the long-term impacts of crowdfunding on sustainability, as well as a deeper understanding of the ethical implications surrounding governance and backer protection on crowdfunding platforms. This study contributes to the growing body of literature on sustainability-oriented crowdfunding by offering a detailed roadmap for future research and practical implications for scholars and practitioners alike.

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  • Carè, Rosella & Fatima, Rabia & Agnese, Paolo, 2025. "Crowdfunding and sustainable development: A systematic review," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:78:y:2025:i:c:s1544612325004830
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2025.107220
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    JEL classification:

    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors
    • G24 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Investment Banking; Venture Capital; Brokerage
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • Q01 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - General - - - Sustainable Development

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