Prof. Deepmala Baghel’s research paper titled ‘Trends and Patterns of Sustainability in SMEs: A Bibliometric Analysis of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) Literature’ has been published in the Accountancy Business and the Public Interest journal.
The research focuses on the SME sector being essential for the competitive development of any country. Ironically, SMEs have been conspicuously neglected in prevailing ESG research. This study sheds light on the robust state of ESG research within SMEs. The research analysis indicates a notable increase in publications and a greater concretization of ESG after 2021. On the contrary, the concept of sustainability has existed from the beginning in SMEs. Developing a unique response mechanism to the contemporary capitalist market influences the economic aspects of ESG practices.
New words like green innovation, sustainability disclosure, ESG reporting, and greenwashing have emerged that incredibly indicate the future directions of ESG studies in SMEs, the findings of this research indicate.