Financial dimensions of social enterprises: An integrative review and thematic mapping of the literature

This paper offers a comprehensive overview of the financial aspects of social enterprises, highlighting diverse perspectives, themes, and emerging trends within the field. The sample set, derived from the Scopus database, was finalized through a rigorous four-step filtering process that included manual screening. A total of 203 research papers published since the field's inception were reviewed using bibliometric and content analysis. Two software tools, Bibliometric R and VOS Viewer, were used to explore the research questions and create visual representations of bibliometric networks. Utilizing bibliometric and content analysis, this investigation conducts a comprehensive examination of the financial aspects of social enterprises, emphasizing practical financing mechanisms such as social venture capital and Crowdfunding, as well as emerging trends. This research makes a distinct contribution by redirecting attention from extensively documented challenges to identifying underutilized financial opportunities and pragmatic options for funding, particularly in emerging economies. Thematic mapping and identification of emerging patterns provide significant, solution-oriented insights for both academics and practitioners, offering a novel perspective that enhances the financial comprehension of social enterprises and guides future research prospects.