The digital divide in social entrepreneurship: A bibliometric analysis

Abstract

The global economy has undergone a digital transformation that is now essential for sustainable business success, with COVID-19 significantly accelerating this trend. Organizations have been compelled to adopt digital technologies to remain competitive in an increasingly demanding market. In Spain, the social economy sector has also embraced digitalization, supported by specific funding; however, social economy enterprises often struggle due to limited resources, hindering their ability to fully leverage digital advancements.

The social economy includes organizations focused on social rather than financial objectives, characterized by democratic governance and efforts to address local social and economic challenges. This sector has seen the rise of social entrepreneurship initiatives aimed at tackling societal issues through sustainable and responsible business practices. Social entrepreneurship thus combines social and economic value creation, supporting social inclusion and sustainable development.

This paper aims to assess the current literature on sustainable digitalization, the social economy, and social entrepreneurship through a bibliometric study, identifying key trends and areas of interest. Furthermore, it examines how digitalization is integrated within the business models of social economy enterprises. The study finds that while digitalization promotes innovation and sustainability in the social economy, organizations face challenges like limited resources and digital skills gaps. This hinders competitiveness. The research calls for tailored policies to address sector-specific needs and suggests further exploration of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and big data, insocial enterprises.