The Broad Spectrum of Sustainability and the Social Economy: Perspectives from Bibliometric Data

Abstract

Researchers have recently focused attention on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) because of their social impact and the imperative to combine economic growth with sustainability. At the same time, academics have emphasised the key role played by social economy (SE) organisations in achieving the SDGs, a recognition that has been echoed by numerous institutions. This study, which runs from 2015 to 2021, uses bibliometric analysis to measure the extent of research on the alignment of SE organisations with the SDGs, providing information on its evolution. The analysis is based on the Web of Science (WoS) citation database and uses VOSviewer version 1.6.17 and RStudio version 3.6.3. It assesses the current status, challenges and opportunities of the synergy between SE and the SDGs. The results reveal that this is a burgeoning area of research, predominantly focused on Europe, which lacks a clearly defined focus on the role of SE organisations as catalysts for the SDGs. As a result, SE researchers are missing the opportunity to demonstrate that SE attributes and strategies legitimise SE organisations as pioneers in achieving the SDGs. The findings of this analysis can advance the understanding of the role of SE organisations in achieving the SDGs, potentially steering future research initiatives.