A bibliometric investigation of research trends in environmental, social, and governance research using VOSviewer and Biblioshiny

Abstract

This study analyses the development, conceptual foundations, and emerging directions of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) research, with particular emphasis on its contribution to business sustainability and financial performance. It aims to map the dominant research themes in the ESG literature, examine the contributions of prominent authors, institutions, journals, and countries, and identify promising avenues for future research. The study adopts a quantitative bibliometric approach based on secondary data drawn from the Scopus database. A structured screening procedure was applied to peer reviewed journal articles, conference proceedings, and review papers published in English between 2015 and 2025 that explicitly addressed ESG concepts, yielding a final sample of 2,878 publications from 607 journals. Bibliometric indicators, including authorship patterns, citation structures, institutional and country contributions, journal sources, and keyword co occurrences, were examined using VOSviewer and R Studio (Biblioshiny). The findings indicate significant expansion and diversification of ESG research over the study period, organised around six core thematic clusters: sustainable development, business values, corporate social responsibility, ESG disclosure, ESG investment, and corporate strategy. The study identifies the most influential contributors and sources shaping ESG scholarship and points to growing research opportunities in the strategic and financial integration of ESG factors.