Social Enterprise and Economic Growth: A Systematic Literature Search and Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

Social enterprises (SEs) have gained recognition as innovative hybrid organizations that address complex societal challenges while fostering economic growth through job creation, social inclusion, and local development. Despite their growing influence, the empirical relationship between SEs and macroeconomic progress remains underexplored in a systematic manner. This study bridges this gap by conducting a comprehensive systematic literature review (SLR) and bibliometric analysis of 906 peer-reviewed articles published between 1999 and 2023, sourced from the Scopus database. Utilizing VOSviewer software, we employ co-occurrence and citation network analyses to map the intellectual structure of this interdisciplinary field, identifying key contributors, influential publications, thematic clusters, and emerging trends.

Our findings reveal a 23.17% surge in publications in 2021, reflecting heightened academic and policy interest in SEs’ role in sustainable economic development. Geographically, China, the United Kingdom, and the United States dominate research output, underscoring the global relevance of SEs in addressing socioeconomic and environmental disparities. The analysis highlights recurring themes, including mission governance, scaling challenges, and impact measurement, while pinpointing underexplored areas such as SE ecosystems in developing economies. By synthesizing these insights, this study not only clarifies the SE-economic growth nexus but also provides a foundational framework for future research, policy design, and cross-regional comparative studies.