Bridging Micro and Macro Sustainability: How Sustainable Finance Connects Corporate esg to Sustainable Development Goals

ABSTRACT Sustainable finance (SF) has increasingly been conceptualized in the literature as a mechanism linking firm‐level ESG practices to broader sustainable development outcomes. However, the field remains theoretically fragmented, with limited integrated mapping of micro–SF–macro linkages. Using scientometric and bibliometric techniques, this study analyzes 1,024 Scopus‐indexed publications (2004–2025) through performance analysis, keyword co‐occurrence, text mining, and bibliographic coupling. Thirteen keyword clusters reveal the intellectual structure of the field, spanning green finance, ESG performance, governance, climate policy, and energy transition. Bibliographic coupling identifies six thematic clusters that suggest how sustainable finance is theorized to link firm‐level actions with macro‐level sustainability transformations. Despite rapid post–Paris Agreement growth, theoretical and methodological coherence remains limited. The study outlines future research directions, emphasizing disclosure harmonization, causal identification, innovation–policy alignment, and multi‐level approaches. Accordingly, the findings capture patterns in the literature rather than empirically verified causal relationships.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Journal of Economic Surveys
Published
2026-10-31
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/joes.70187
Primary Topic
Sustainable Finance and Green Bonds
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Bridging Micro and Macro Sustainability: How Sustainable Finance Connects Corporate esg to Sustainable Development Goals

Numan Khan, Sitara Karim
Journal of Economic Surveys
Sustainable Finance and Green Bonds
article

Bridging Micro and Macro Sustainability: How Sustainable Finance Connects Corporate esg to Sustainable Development Goals

Numan Khan, Sitara Karim
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT Sustainable finance (SF) has increasingly been conceptualized in the literature as a mechanism linking firm‐level ESG practices to broader sustainable development outcomes. However, the field remains theoretically fragmented, with limited integrated mapping of micro–SF–macro linkages. Using scientometric and bibliometric techniques, this study analyzes 1,024 Scopus‐indexed publications (2004–2025) through performance analysis, keyword co‐occurrence, text mining, and bibliographic coupling. Thirteen keyword clusters reveal the intellectual structure of the field, spanning green finance, ESG performance, governance, climate policy, and energy transition. Bibliographic coupling identifies six thematic clusters that suggest how sustainable finance is theorized to link firm‐level actions with macro‐level sustainability transformations. Despite rapid post–Paris Agreement growth, theoretical and methodological coherence remains limited. The study outlines future research directions, emphasizing disclosure harmonization, causal identification, innovation–policy alignment, and multi‐level approaches. Accordingly, the findings capture patterns in the literature rather than empirically verified causal relationships.

Journal of Economic Surveys
ILMA University (PK), Arkın Yaratıcı Sanatlar ve Tasarım Üniversitesi (CY), Sunway University (MY)
Openalex Percentile: Top 9%
Sustainable Finance and Green Bonds
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.

Laika access coming soon
Bridging Micro and Macro Sustainability: How Sustainable Finance Connects Corporate esg to Sustainable Development Goals — Numan Khan, Sitara Karim · Journal of Economic Surveys (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS