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Mapping China's ESG Disclosure Research Evolution: A CiteSpace-Based Knowledge Visualization Analysis (2004-2024)

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  • Fan Feifei

    (Faculty of Economics and Business, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia Author-2-Name: Asri Marsidi Author-2-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Economics and Business, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia Author-3-Name: Author-3-Workplace-Name: Author-4-Name: Author-4-Workplace-Name: Author-5-Name: Author-5-Workplace-Name: Author-6-Name: Author-6-Workplace-Name: Author-7-Name: Author-7-Workplace-Name: Author-8-Name: Author-8-Workplace-Name:)

Abstract

" Objective - This study aims to systematically investigate the evolutionary trajectory of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) information disclosure research in China from 2004 to 2024, mapping the intellectual structures, collaboration networks, and research dynamics to identify developmental patterns and research gaps in this rapidly evolving domain. Methodology/Technique – A comprehensive bibliometric analysis was conducted using CiteSpace visualization software to analyze 1,039 academic publications sourced from the Web of Science database. The methodology employed temporal distribution analysis, author and institutional collaboration network visualization, keyword co-occurrence analysis, and burst detection to map knowledge structures and research trends. Findings – The analysis revealed three distinct developmental phases in China's ESG disclosure research: an emergence phase (2004-2014), a steady growth phase (2015-2019), and an acceleration phase (2020-2024) following China's ""dual carbon"" goals announcement. Critical gaps were identified in interdisciplinary collaboration and industry-academia partnerships. Research focus has shifted from conceptual frameworks toward technology-enhanced disclosure mechanisms, with emerging clusters on digital transformation, climate risk disclosures, and greenwashing detection. Novelty – This research produces the first comprehensive knowledge map of China's ESG disclosure research ecosystem using visualization techniques, providing quantitative evidence of the policy-driven nature of sustainability reporting development in emerging economies. The work uniquely bridges international ESG disclosure theories with China's distinctive institutional context while offering a methodological innovation that demonstrates how visualization techniques overcome traditional literature review limitations in complex research domains. Type of Paper - Empirical"

Suggested Citation

  • Fan Feifei, 2025. "Mapping China's ESG Disclosure Research Evolution: A CiteSpace-Based Knowledge Visualization Analysis (2004-2024)," GATR Journals jfbr228, Global Academy of Training and Research (GATR) Enterprise.
    • Handle: RePEc:gtr:gatrjs:jfbr228
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.35609/jfbr.2025.10.1(1)
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lori Holder-Webb & Jeffrey Cohen & Leda Nath & David Wood, 2009. "The Supply of Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosures Among U.S. Firms," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 84(4), pages 497-527, February.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance
    • M14 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Corporate Culture; Diversity; Social Responsibility
    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth
    • O16 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Financial Markets; Saving and Capital Investment; Corporate Finance and Governance

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