Trends and patterns in ESG research: A bibliometric odyssey and research agenda.

The paper provides a detailed analysis of the ESG literature with the aim of bringing clarity to this area of research and proposing a research agenda. An overview of the development of the literature on ESG pillars is offered through a review of 903 peer- reviewed articles. The paper identifies four thematic clusters: impacts of ESG disclo- sure and practices, sustainability, accounting, and responsible investments. The main research streams and sub-streams for each cluster are discussed, highlighting the most frequent theoretical perspectives and methodologies. Furthermore, the evolu- tion of ESG research across time is delineated. The paper also identifies future research directions within each cluster to advance knowledge, and proposes an inte- grative framework based on focal themes and their reciprocal connections.