From CSR credibility to financial performance: a bibliometric analysis of governance, innovation, and reputation as strategic mediators

This paper presents a bibliometric analysis of the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and corporate financial performance, focusing on CSR credibility, governance, innovation, and reputation as key mediators. The analysis highlights six main thematic areas: CSR's role in performance driven by innovation, governance structures, CSR communication credibility, sustainability reporting, and how costs and situational factors moderate CSR results. The findings show that CSR credibility and governance play crucial roles as mediators between CSR activities and enhanced corporate reputation and financial performance. In the same vein, CSR's impact on financial performance depends heavily on governance, which enables successful CSR implementation and communication. The results suggest integrating CSR with broader governance frameworks and innovation strategies to maximise shareholder value and societal impact. The study offers valuable insights into CSR research trends, particularly the rise of environmental, social and governance disclosures and the increasing focus on innovation as a CSR-financial performance mediator.