Entrepreneurship & networks in Peripheral Area: A bibliometric analysis

Purpose. This paper maps the state of the art on entrepreneurship and networks in Peripheral Areas (PAs), identifying the most influential authors, outlets and documents, the main thematic streams and emerging trends, and highlighting underexplored topics that deserve further attention. Design/methodology/approach. We conduct a bibliometric analysis using the R-package bibliometrix. Data were collected from Scopus and Web of Science (timespan 2000–2023) and 937 documents from the Business, Management & Accounting area were analysed with both quantitative and qualitative tools. The study combines performance analysis (publication and citation metrics) with science mapping techniques (citation and co-citation analysis, bibliographic coupling, co-word and co-authorship analyses, thematic evolution). Findings. Research on entrepreneurship and networks in PAs has grown rapidly (≈20.2% annual growth), concentrated around two dominant streams: contextualised/rural entrepreneurship and social capital/social entrepreneurship. Key outlets and authors are identified (e.g., Entrepreneurship & Regional Development; Bosworth; Anderson; Korsgaard). Thematic mapping uncovers motor themes (social capital, regional/rural development), emerging niches (microfinance, women’s entrepreneurship, migration) and recent topics (digitalisation, coworking). Co-authorship and country maps show modest international collaboration and dense national clusters. The Industrial Marketing & Purchasing (IMP) perspective is under-represented, suggesting a promising avenue. Practical and Social implications. Findings stress that networks and social capital are central resources enabling resource mobilisation, innovation and place development in PAs. Policy and practice should prioritise network facilitation, place-based support, and social-enterprise promotion to enhance local resilience and inclusive development. Originality of the study. By merging Scopus and WOS and applying a comprehensive bibliometric workflow (2000–2023), this study provides the first consolidated, multidisciplinary map of entrepreneurship–network research in PAs, pinpoints thematic gaps (e.g., IMP lenses, migrant entrepreneurs, digitalisation) and offers a clear research agenda for future, place-sensitive investigations, with particular regard for the IMP field.