Bibliometric Trends in Social Entrepreneurship

Social entrepreneurship significantly contributes to economic stability and societal well-being, particularly in addressing global economic and environmental challenges. In the 2020s, this field has gained prominence in tackling major social issues that impact economic and psychological well-being. Despite increasing academic interest, comprehensive bibliometric analyses combining data from major databases like SCOPUS and Web of Science (WOS) remain limited. This study bridges that gap by analyzing 3,643 publications from Scopus and 3,574 from WOS, covering 2000 to 2023. Using BIBLIOMETRIX software, it employs social network and bibliometric coupling analyses to trace the evolution of social entrepreneurship research. Findings reveal a rise in publications, identifying key journals, prolific authors, leading countries, and major academic collaborations. The study also defines six thematic clusters, reflecting diverse research areas. This literature synthesis not only maps past contributions but also provides future research directions, emphasizing the evolving role of social entrepreneurship within the broader entrepreneurial landscape.