Towards the convergence of two scientific research agendas: sustainable development and value chains.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22231/asyd.v22i4.1742Keywords:
bibliometric analysis, circular economy, governance, industry 4.0Abstract
Sustainable development has become a prominent concept in the global political, economic, social and scientific agendas, due to the urgent need for transformation of social and economic systems to satisfy the present needs, without compromising future resources. These changes impact different socioeconomic aspects, especially the organization of production through value chains. This article focuses on the convergence between research agendas about sustainable development and value chains, inquiring into the central question: What type of thematic convergence is observed between these agendas? To address the objective, a bibliometric methodology is used, highlighting the analysis of word networks, co-occurrence networks, and conceptual structure of scientific publications. The results reveal annual growth of 45% in the number of scientific publications during the period examined, which tripled in the most recent period (2015 to 2021). In the network analysis, 20 thematic clusters were identified resulting from the convergence, with three highly interconnected central nodes standing out: Global Value Chains, governance, and sustainability management. In the Sustainable Development Objectives, other themes stand out, such as corporate participation, impact of emerging technologies in commercial strategies, Industry 4.0, and circular economy. The convergence of research agendas reflects the investigative evolution on global preoccupations and the need for integrated approaches. In addition, it represents an inter-, multi- and trans-disciplinary process that facilitates the generation of new knowledge to approach complex contemporary challenges.
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