Exploring the knowledge structure between government incentives and corporate social responsibility

Purpose – The aim of this study is to conduct a bibliometric analysis of the relationship between government incentives and corporate social responsibility (CSR). Design/methodology/approach – The authors use a bibliometric approach, using co-citation, bibliographic coupling and co-occurrence analysis, to a data set of 154 documents published (2004–2023) in Web of Science on the relationship between government incentives and CSR. Findings – Firstly, based on the co-citation analysis, the authors identify three historical research areas: the resource-based view theory, green innovation and research and development (R&D) policy. Based on the bibliographic approach, the authors recognize five current research streams: government regulation and policy; green innovation; sustainable performance of small- and medium-sized enterprises; sustainability; and R&D investment. The co-occurrence analysis reveals four emerging research areas: management and governance policy; sustainable development and firm performance; green innovation strategies; and sustainability. Practical implications – Grounded in these insights, the authors suggest several future research directions and policy implications in the field of government incentives and CSR. Originality/value – Research into the relationship between government incentives and CSR has increased over the past two decades. The field is widely researched around the world, yet this research remains unstructured and is in need of a systematic approach such as meta-analyses or bibliometric studies. To address this gap, the authors use a bibliometric analysis to study the relationship between government incentives and CSR.