Purpose – This paper aims to examine how the notion of the common good has evolved within the social
sciences, with a particular focus on its application in business ethics and corporate social responsibility.
Although scholars often cite the concept, they frequently use it ambiguously or without critical reflection. This
study clarifies those shifts and positions the common good as a unifying ethical framework to confront
contemporary business and societal challenges.
Design/methodology/approach – This paper analyzes 1,690 Web of Science documents (1960–2022) using
citation mapping and co-word analysis. This method tracks intellectual structures, thematic clusters and research trends,
providing a systematic view of how continuities and transformations shape the discourse on the common good.
Findings – This paper identifies three coherent foundational clusters: virtue ethics, Catholic Social Thought
and procedural/institutional ethics. Newer interpretations display greater diversity but weaker integration. Six
thematic clusters expose persistent tensions between moral agency and structural equity, universal principles
and contextual adaptability and ethical imperatives and instrumental outcomes. Sustainability and digital
ethics emerge as promising yet underexplored frontiers. Influential works drive much of the debate, but
contributions remain uneven across regions and disciplines.
Research limitations/implications – Because of the chosen methodology, the study may underrepresent
Global South perspectives and oversimplify complex philosophical debates.
Practical implications – The findings encourage organizations to adopt ethical frameworks beyond
environmental, social and governance compliance and urge policymakers to balance grassroots input with
institutional accountability.
Originality/value – This paper pioneers bibliometric methods to trace the evolution of the common good,
highlighting its coherence and fragmentation and advocating revitalization through interdisciplinary and non-Western
perspectives.
Resultados
Article
International Journal of Ethics and Systems
Abstract
Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity
Abstract
Solving the main global challenges in terms of sustainability is essential for all territories. Questions have recently emerged over the role of innovation systems in the transition toward a more sustainable economy. However, studies that attempt to address these questions have primarily been conducted in developed countries. Meanwhile, developing countries often have weak innovation systems and low performance in knowledge and technology production. In these countries, there are also persistent challenges such as social inequality and poverty, which constrain sustainable development achievement. This study provides an overview of the scientific literature on the role of innovation systems for sustainable development in developing countries. The methodology combines the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) reporting guidelines with bibliometric analysis. An analysis was performed on the distribution of publications over time, key publications, most important countries, main sources, co-citation analysis, and thematic mapping. The results reveal that research interest in this topic of study is growing. The countries that form the focus of research on innovation systems within the framework of sustainable development are mostly high-income countries, primarily in Europe. China is the leading developing country where this type of analysis has been conducted. Technological innovation systems (TISs) represent one of the main frameworks used in these studies. This study contributes to bridging the gap in understanding innovation systems in developing countries for sustainable development, as a guide for moving toward more sustainable economies and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Sage Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to identify and understand the necessary conditions for companies to implement social practices. Social practices positively affect society and the companies that implement them. Understanding the factors that lead to social practices is crucial to promote these practices and thus bring about their positive effects. Necessary condition analysis (NCA) was conducted following a survey of 141 companies in the Spanish footwear cluster. The conditions of supplier relationship, customer relationship, and culture were found to be necessary for the implementation of social practices. This finding reveals the importance of conveying to employees the relevance of social practices and their key role in customer engagement. For the highest levels of social practices, investment was present, indicating that only companies with a deep commitment to social practices can fulfill their potential to attract investors. Similarly, government barriers and internal barriers were only observed to be acknowledged by companies with outstanding social practices. These findings provide useful insights for companies and policymakers.