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From Corporate Social Responsibility to Social Entrepreneurship: A Bibliometric Approach

Author

Listed:
  • Giuseppe Modaffari
  • Tommaso Beck

Abstract

This study examines the evolution of social entrepreneurship (SE) within the broader context of corporate social responsibility (CSR) through a systematic literature review supported by the bibliometric analysis. Based on 1.263 peer‐reviewed articles indexed in Scopus between 2020 and 2025, the research employs the Biblioshiny package in R‐Studio to map temporal, geographical, and conceptual patterns. Results reveal a steady growth of academic attention to SE, emphasizing core themes such as innovation, sustainability, and social impact as key drivers of the field. The findings show that SE extends the CSR paradigm by embedding social value creation into entrepreneurial strategy, fostering hybrid models that integrate economic performance with ethical and social objectives. This study also provides an updated framework for understanding recent developments in SE and offers insights for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners interested in advancing socially responsible and innovative business practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Giuseppe Modaffari & Tommaso Beck, 2026. "From Corporate Social Responsibility to Social Entrepreneurship: A Bibliometric Approach," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 33(2), pages 2005-2017, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:corsem:v:33:y:2026:i:2:p:2005-2017
    DOI: 10.1002/csr.70259
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    References listed on IDEAS

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