Research perspectives on youth social entrepreneurship: strategies, economy, and innovation

Abstract

Youth social enterprises have become a significant component of the global economy since the late twentieth century. With the changing world and the emergence of new economies, there is a growing demand for expanding markets and reaching new customers, making it an opportune time for young entrepreneurs to utilize their unique characteristics of creativity and drive. This study aims to conduct a systematic literature review on youth social entrepreneurship through the application of bibliometric tools and methods in order to identify needs and challenges in this field. The literature was explored using the Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) databases from 2010 to 2022. The findings were analyzed using Bibliometrix and R-Studio tools, which facilitated two methodological stages: scientific mapping and network analysis. Based on the tree metaphor, the collected documents were categorized into the root, trunk, and leaves groups. The results unveiled several research clusters, including business strategies, social entrepreneurship and capitalism, and social change and innovation, were identified. In general, the above-mentioned clusters introduce fresh approaches, suggest solutions, advocate for societal change, and enrich comprehension regarding youth-driven social enterprises. Finally, this study concludes by presenting an agenda for future research in the field.

Introduction

In the knowledge era, succeeding generations face the challenge of contributing to urban and national development in economic and social spheres (Marchesania et al., 2022). One strategy to address problems related to subsistence means is encouraging entrepreneurship as a means of stimulating employment (Guerrero et al., 2022; Huang et al., 2022). Youth entrepreneurship plays a pivotal role in the field of commerce, with a significant impact on a country’s economy, job creation, and national development (Boris & Parakhina, 2022). Socially, it contributes to young people’s civic engagement and leadership initiatives, making it a valuable contribution to society (Valls, 2009).

Youth social entrepreneurship is a flexible and valuable tool that integrates entrepreneurial spirit and innovative initiatives from all economies and plays a decisive role in innovation and economic development (Daskalopoulou et al., 2022). Driven by economic and social considerations, youth social enterprises create new models that unite wealth creation, social welfare development, and environmental improvement through innovative approaches (Shan & Tian, 2022). In addition to these benefits, these enterprises have a positive impact on poverty reduction and socio-economic problem-solving, for example, by helping the youth to avoid unemployment (Vankov & Vankov, 2023).

Thanks to their creative abilities, young entrepreneurs design territorial models that promote responsible mobility in a way that leads to a better quality of life. The social transformation based on citizen co-responsibility is rooted in feelings of sympathy and pursues urban happiness to achieve a dignified human life (Arizaga, 2017). Thus while rural enterprises develop perspectives based on resources and capacities to confront poverty in those areas, the urban approach to entrepreneurship studies presents a perspective of opportunities for exploitation. (Barry Dalal-Clayton et al., 2000).

Several studies on youth social entrepreneurship have been conducted, identifying the impact of unforeseen situations such as COVID-19 on aspects related to education, health, and unemployment in developed and developing countries (Khan et al., 2022). In areas such as Latin America, youth entrepreneurship is considered a promising path to enhance employment opportunities within this demographic as this form of entrepreneurs tend to be more willing to employ individuals within similar age ranges. Concurrently, young entrepreneurs tend to be more open to emerging opportunities and trends, displaying increased engagement in sectors characterized by rapid growth. Additionally, they manifest a propensity for innovation and exhibit considerable personal fulfillment derived from their entrepreneurial pursuits (International Youth Organization for Ibero-America, 2018).

Nevertheless, entrepreneurship poses considerable challenges across various contexts, particularly in regions like Latin America and the Caribbean, where entrepreneurial ecosystems remain underdeveloped. Furthermore, a significant number of young individuals in these regions do not yet perceive entrepreneurship as a feasible career choice. Among those who do consider it, there exists a notable deficiency in the skills and knowledge needed to initiate and establish businesses (Lab & Youth Business International, 2020). Moreover, the ambition of young entrepreneurs to initiate or expand businesses could face challenges due to high costs and insufficient government support for such endeavors (Biney, 2019).

On a global scale, as per the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor's (GEM) 2023 report, which assesses entrepreneurial activity across 49 economies worldwide, younger individuals are more likely to initiate businesses compared to their older counterparts. In 37 of the 49 economies examined, the rate of early-stage entrepreneurial activity among individuals aged 18–34 surpassed that of people aged 35–64. This disparity means a distinct entrepreneurial advantage for societies with youthful demographics while posing a corresponding disadvantage to regions characterized by older populations.

Literature reviews serve as a cornerstone for advancing new knowledge and meticulously analyzing the existing state of knowledge within a particular field of study. They play a crucial role in identifying gaps in knowledge and building the foundation for future research endeavors (Lim et al., 2022). Notably, within the realm of youth social entrepreneurship, an absence of comprehensive systematic literature reviews was evident in the surveyed databases. Such reviews are pivotal as they facilitate the identification of key research perspectives and lines for future exploration within the field. Hence, there arises an essential need for the development of this type of studies (Pautasso, 2013).

Therefore, this study addresses this research gap by implementing bibliometric tools to analyze publications registered in the Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) databases from 2010 to 2022. The study also examines authors, countries, journals, institutions, and other relevant data to provide scientific information on the subject. When analyzing information and generating results, the study utilized R-studio, Bibliometrix, and the tree of science due to their validation by various papers, which will be further explained in the Methodology section.

The structure of the present work is divided into four sections. Firstly, the methodology specifies the process employed for data collection and analysis. Subsequently, the results are grouped into two sections: the scientific mapping, designed to discern the key bibliometric traits pertinent to youth social enterprises, and the network analysis, aimed at identifying originating documents (leaves), structural (stem), and research trends (leaves) which were identified as clusters. Following this, comprehensive findings and conclusions are presented. Lastly, a prospective agenda for future research lines is delineated.

Methodology

The current study was executed in two phases. The initial stage, which was titled scientific mapping, involved a bibliometric analysis of the publications recorded in the Scopus and WoS databases between 2010 and 2022. The second phase, referred to as network analysis, aimed to identify the articles that belonged to the roots, trunk, and leaves of the Tree of Science to uncover the applications of youth entrepreneurship in social domains.

The scientific mapping and productivity analysis were carried out utilizing the five bibliometric procedures recommended by Zupic and Cater (2015), including citation analysis, term coincidence research, citation analysis of other documents, co-authorship analysis, and study of the set of related citations among various authors. The Scopus and WoS databases were selected due to the number of articles registered in both and their global significance (Pranckutė, 2021; Zhu & Liu, 2020). Additionally, Pangarso et al. (2022) advocate in their study for an expanded search beyond only utilizing Scopus; they suggest extending the query to incorporate other databases, which served as one of the justifications for the utilization of two databases in the present study.

The search period in both databases spanned from 2010 to 2022. The search index generated 133 hits with no duplicates. Bibliometrix was used in the bibliographic study because of its effectiveness and multiple functions validated in previous research (Acevedo et al., 2020; Di Vaio et al., 2021; Duque, Samboni, et al., 2020; Duque, Trejos, et al. al., 2021; Landinez et al., 2019; Queiroz & Fosso Wamba, 2021; Secinaro et al., 2021; Tani et al., 2018).

The inclusion criteria are shown with the help of the PRISMA methodology in Fig. 1. The bibliographic results were obtained from the query criteria [TITLE (social) AND TITLE (empresa/business* OR venture OR enterprise OR entrepreneurship OR company OR organization) AND TITLE (“young people” OR youth OR young OR joven/youngster*)]. The Scopus database presented the highest number of search results in the area, totaling 59%. The bibliometric analysis was conducted based on the final results once the duplicate documents were removed, which included 133 documents reviewed in the present study.

Fig. 1

Query criteria using the PRISMA methodology (Page et al., 2021)

The second phase of the present study, the network analysis, involved classifying information according to the type and characteristics of the network based on graph theory, using R-studio software and taking into account the references of the publications consulted in the Scopus and WoS databases (Wallis, 2007; Yang et al., 2016). This method facilitated the consideration of three bibliometric indicators: Indegree, Betweenness, and Outdegree. Indegree quantified the number of references a document had (Wallis, 2007), Betweenness measured the intermediation of the elements of the network (Freeman, 1977), and Outdegree identified the frequency of citations of other documents (Wallis, 2007). The Indegree and Betweenness indicators were used to identify the articles that belonged to the roots and the trunk of the Tree of Science, while Outdegree was employed to identify research perspectives related to youth social entrepreneurship. This technique was selected based on its validity, as demonstrated in previous research (Alzate et al., 2024; Buitrago et al., 2020; Clavijo-Tapia et al., 2021; Duque, Meza, Giraldo, et al., 2021; Duque, Meza, Zapata, et al., 2021; Duque, Toro, et al., 2020a, 2020b; Duque & Cervantes, 2019; Ramos et al., 2021; Barrera et al., 2022; Torres et al., 2021; Trejos-Salazar et al., 2021; Alzate & Giraldo, 2023). Additionally, a co-citation map was created to highlight research trends in the study topic (Gurzki & Woisetschläger, 2017; Zuschke, 2020).

Results

The findings depicted in Fig. 2 demonstrate the number of publications related to youth social entrepreneurship. Scopus is shown to be the database with the highest number of publications, and the year 2021 exhibits the highest number of papers published. The graph illustrates a significant increase in Scopus between 2014 and 2018, from 5 publications in 2014 to 14 in 2018. Thereafter, the number of publications declined, with 12 publications in 2019 and 8 in 2020. However, the numbers resumed an upward trend after 2020, reaching 15 documents in 2021. As for the WoS database, the highest quantity of publications was 12 documents per year, registered in the last two years of the analyzed period. In general, there has been a growing interest in research in this area in the scientific community since 2015. Both databases have experienced a significant increase in the number of publications, with an annual growth rate of 15.77%.

Fig. 2

Annual publications

According to Table 1, the United States of America (USA) has the highest number of published documents related to youth social entrepreneurship, occupying the top spot. The United Kingdom (UK) ranks second, contributing 4.5% of the total documents. Russia, Canada, China, and Spain have an equal number of articles, as do Italy, Mexico, and Pakistan. Notably, five of the top 10 countries on the list are from Europe, with the remaining countries representing North America (United States, Canada, and Mexico, the sole Latin American country in the top 10) and Asia (China and Pakistan). Although only two Asian countries have explored this topic, they have published a comparable number of articles to some European and North American countries.

Table 1 Publications by country

The present study employed the Bibliometrix tool to construct the collaboration network among countries, which is depicted in Fig. 3. The network is headed by the United States, which exhibits connections with the United Kingdom, Italy, Australia, and Germany through several co-authored publications in the field of youth social entrepreneurship. Three additional groups are embedded within the larger network, albeit with a lesser degree of prominence. Notably, South Africa and Malawi, Poland and Lithuania, and China and Pakistan have established collaborative relationships. Lastly, it is worth noting that Hong Kong and Malaysia have collaborated solely with each other, without any links to other countries in the network.

Fig. 3

Network of collaboration among countries

Table 2 displays the top 9 authors in Scopus and WoS, with a publication count ranging from 2 to 3 papers. Leading the list is K. Ferguson, hailing from the United States, with a staggering 1728 citations and an H index of 25. S. Alkhalaf, from Saudi Arabia, closely follows with 408 citations and an H index of 11. Notably, C. Davidson, with only 2 publications, holds a significant number of citations. It is worth mentioning that authors from Asia, Spain, the United States, and Australia have earned a place in the top 10.

Table 2 Publications by author

Figure 4 displays the 13 authors who have published the most on youth social entrepreneurship and have been actively collaborating with other researchers. Among them, S. Zulfiqar stands out as the researcher who has worked with six other scholars on the topic, including S. Alkhalaf, As. Al-adwan, and Ar. Alsoud. Additionally, As. Al-adwan, S. Alkhalaf, Wm. Alrahmi, and Ar. Alsoud have collaborated with four different authors. The remaining scholars depicted in the figure have had one or two research collaborations with other researchers.

Fig. 4

Network of collaboration among authors

In Fig. 5, the co-citation network among the 15 most cited authors is presented, where the size of each circle corresponds to the number of publications. Notably, J. Gregory Dees, widely recognized as the pioneer of social entrepreneurship education, is featured as one of the most influential authors. Dees, an American scholar and professor, founded and directed the Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship at Duke University. Pierre Bourdieu, a renowned sociologist, is also noteworthy for his extensive research on the mechanisms of power in society and the complex ways in which power is transmitted and societal structures are sustained across generations. Additionally, Johanna Mair, a distinguished professor of organization, strategy, and leadership at the Hertie School and a distinguished fellow at the Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society, is another author with a significant number of citations. Mair serves as the academic editor of the Stanford Social Innovation Review and co-director of the Global Innovation for Impact Lab.

Fig. 5

Network of co-citation among authors

Table 3 presents the journals with the highest number of publications on the subject of study. Most of the journals have a maximum number of 2 records, constituting only 1.5% of the total documents in the field. “Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research” is the only journal in the top 9 with one publication. However, this journal exhibits impressive scientific statistics as it belongs to quartile 1, has an H index of 159, and has a value of 1.05 in the Scimago Journal Ranking (SJR). Another noteworthy journal listed in Table 3 is “New Media and Society” with an H index of 124. Among the Q1 journals that deserve attention are “The Journal of Youth Studies,” “Knowledge Management Research and Practice,” “New Media and Society,” “Praxis Educativa,” and “Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.” Six out of the ten journals are based in the United Kingdom, while the remaining ones are from Brazil, Russia, and the United States.

Table 3 Publications by journal

Figure 6 depicts the network of co-occurring words among the study articles. The network consists of two interconnected groups, with the larger group including the words “human”, “article”, and “adolescent” and their association with gender. The second group is headed by the terms “adult”, “social support”, and “organization and administration”. It is worth noting that the former group has a relatively larger size compared to the latter.

Fig. 6

Network of words co-occurrence

Figure 7 displays the tree of youth social entrepreneurship, presenting the most relevant and influential research generated with the R-studio software. In this tree, the classic articles, located at the root, support the foundational principles of the field. Subsequently, the article by Zulfiqar et al. (2021) establishes a connection between the classic articles and the research trends, providing a structured framework for the tree. Finally, the leaves of the tree, grouped into three distinct areas, suggest emerging research trends based on the clustering algorithm proposed by Blondel et al. (2008). A critical analysis of the identified research perspectives is developed below.

Fig. 7

Tree of youth social entrepreneurship

Root and trunk approaches

Youth social entrepreneurship is an emerging model that provides young people with an opportunity to start their businesses and create jobs while creating a positive impact in the local community through a social mission. This type of entrepreneurship is a useful tool for understanding collective needs, stimulating transformation, and relating economic value to population value (Mair & Martí, 2006). The theoretical focus of the area aims to promote research on social enterprises as a possible solution to the problems experienced by society and to recognize their leading role in generating change (Santos, 2010). Meanwhile, the methodological approach pursues a general shift by searching for a common good and obtaining benefits related to the development of social value (Mair & Martí, 2006). Consequently, these changes enhance intellectual capital and promote growth in transmitting knowledge (Nahapiet & Ghoshal, 1998). Achieving these goals is only possible if capital is recognized as the force that can make things possible or impossible (Bourdieu & Richardson, 1985).

Entrepreneurial spirit with a social emphasis effectively and systematically achieves business growth impact (Austin et al., 2006) with potential for participation in modern society (Santos, 2010). Non-profit companies are turning to the commercial realm to replace their traditional sources of income. However, the risks of these initiatives have resulted in strategies for improving organizational efficiency and effectiveness aimed at reducing the need for donations (Dees, 1998). Recognition of opportunities and willingness to take advantage of them are fundamental elements that are strengthened by aspects such as formal and informal academic training, social capital, and, most importantly, social empathy, which is the main factor that encourages young people to run social enterprises. (Zulfiqar et al., 2021). Overall, entrepreneurs are innovative and resourceful people who take part in the development of solutions related to global warming, energy crisis, poverty, terrorism, and pandemic situations (Elkington & Hartigan, 2008).

The positioning of social initiatives has been constituted by two key aspects: wealth and the reduction of social problems. Therefore, universities have incorporated skills such as control and autonomy into various programs, recognizing their importance for the profile of a social entrepreneur (González & Sagahón, 2022). Additionally, the areas of sustainability and collaboration have been highlighted in businesses as an intention that is born of love, kindness, and disinterested support, values that could enhance initiatives with work from educational centers (Sana et al., 2021). However, the decision of young people to create social enterprises is positively influenced by technological propensity but restricted by different factors such as lack of investment capital, poor access to financing, lack of entrepreneurial skills, and fear of taking risks (Tam et al., 2021).

The motivation to create social initiatives is determined by various factors, such as the level of awareness and the use of products and services of social enterprises (Blanda & Urbančíková, 2021). The 2008 crisis, poverty, and inequality have driven proposals with a twofold mission, where commercial activities are combined with a social purpose and sustainability in companies with a hybrid vision (Doherty et al., 2014). However, young people have a greater interest in participating in other civic practices rather than creating social enterprises. They choose to foster change and social growth as a significant contribution to the community (Dávila et al., 2021).

Entrepreneurship has been found to have a positive impact on the social consciousness, pro-social connections, and personal goal achievement of young people (Ong et al., 2021). In addition, economically disadvantaged youth who engage in entrepreneurial activities tend to develop higher self-esteem, greater resilience, and improved knowledge and skills (Tam et al., 2021). Social initiatives have also been found to promote social inclusion and progression towards future employment for ex-convicts who face barriers to accessing formal jobs (Soppitt et al., 2022). Sustainable tourism has been identified as a means of promoting change, innovation, and social growth in the rural sector, leading to economic income and personal development opportunities for young people (Salvatore et al., 2021).

Perspectives of research on youth social entrepreneurship

The figure in question, Fig. 8, outlines the research clusters that pertain to the subject of youth social entrepreneurship. Notably, the first three clusters have published over 34 documents each, with the first cluster outpacing the two subsequent groups by 14 publications. The following research perspectives are identified: strategies for social enterprises and pathways to employment for individuals with mental illness and homeless youth; social entrepreneurship, capitalism, teaching cases, and entrepreneurial spirit; and social capital, social change, innovation, and youth. These perspectives represent distinct approaches to the study of youth social entrepreneurship.

Fig. 8

Publications by research cluster

Cluster 1: new strategies for social enterprises and the route to employment for individuals with mental illnesses and homeless youth

The terminology used in the cluster depicted in Fig. 9 identifies the first research perspective, which concentrates on strategies aimed at promoting innovation, income, job opportunities, and social transformation. The cluster further highlights various studies conducted by US universities that examined the path to employment for homeless youth and individuals with mental illnesses, resulting in positive outcomes concerning the development of novel job access strategies.

Fig. 9

Keywords—Research perspective 1

Mental health problems are among the most significant causes of diseases and disabilities worldwide (Harnois & Gabriel, 2000). According to Cook et al. (2005), the likelihood of successful employment outcomes in competitive jobs as a result of psychiatric rehabilitation services is high. Furthermore, Carter and Wehby (2003) highlight that the performance of adolescents and their work behavior can be determined with the help of analysis of emotional disorders in people with mental illnesses. At the same time, Cook (2006) suggests an analysis of the current policies in health care, mental health, and disability.

Warner and Mandiberg (2006) stated that social firms or affirmative businesses, as they are known in North America, are distinguished for employing people with disabilities to offer products or services. The growth of social enterprises is achieved owing to the policies that support these initiatives and to the localization of a suitable market niche. Hence Dees (1998) proposes that social entrepreneurships must identify new strategies for social enterprises to take the most advantage of their capacity for social causes and philanthropic initiatives.

In addition to that, Kipke et al. (1997) proposed to analyze the subcultural differences between young people who have lived on the streets of the city center for some time to identify similar patterns that were developed by those who lived in the same area and subsisted on the same economic means. Frederick (2019) identified how homeless youth relate to each other and the environment on the street as well as their adaptation to this lifestyle. Moreover, Cauce et al. (2000) found that homeless youth come from troubled backgrounds and have high rates of psychiatric disorders. That is why, Gaetz & O’Grady (2002) proposed new strategies to get young people off the streets and ensure better-paid jobs as a solution. Apart from that, Ferguson (2007) argues, based on the principles of social development, that homeless youth can acquire vocational and business skills to overcome the problems they face.

In this context, case studies such as those conducted by Pinho et al. (2019) in Portugal vividly illustrate the transformative impact of program implementation, spanning from early childhood education to basic and secondary schooling, in fostering the concept of social entrepreneurship within educational institutions. Findings from this research indicate that the program significantly enhances the cultivation of individual qualities, such as creativity, self-assurance, persuasive abilities, and the development of essential social competencies vital for interpersonal and group dynamics, thus shaping the foundational aspects of a child’s personality during their formative years in basic education.

Similarly, investigations such as those undertaken by Tam et al. (2024) in Hong Kong underscore the efficacy of social entrepreneurship training in nurturing the psychological resilience and employability prospects of disadvantaged youth. Consequently, they advocate for the early integration of youth entrepreneurship education into the secondary school curriculum to equip young learners with essential skills and opportunities for socio-economic empowerment.

Indeed, health issues stand out as key factors contributing to the onset of diseases and disabilities on a global scale. Hence, the examination of policies targeting mental health and disability care assumes paramount significance and exerts a considerable influence on the labor market integration of individuals grappling with these conditions, as potential emotional disorders could affect work performance of adolescents.

Thus, social enterprises assume a fundamental role, as they tend to employ individuals possessing the aforementioned attributes. It is therefore imperative to offer robust support to social enterprises and to delineate strategies facilitating the optimization of their capabilities concerning social causes and philanthropic endeavors.

Moreover, factors such as homelessness and its underlying causes have a significant socioeconomic impact. Although homeless youth may come from challenging backgrounds and experience high rates of psychiatric disorders, they can develop skills to overcome these difficulties. Therefore, proposing strategies to integrate these individuals into formal labor is essential to assist them in transitioning away from street life. In this regard, social enterprises represent a favorable environment for promoting the employability of vulnerable populations, such as homeless youth.

Cluster 2: social entrepreneurship, capitalism, teaching cases, and entrepreneurial spirit

The research perspective presented in Fig. 10 focuses on factors associated with the entrepreneurial spirit, capitalism, and society. This cluster is noteworthy for its emphasis on the resilience of women and rural youth who have made significant strides in the business world by creating small businesses and gaining agricultural skills to launch their enterprises, respectively. Additionally, this cluster critically examines the impact of capitalism on disadvantaged individuals. It is an interdisciplinary area of research that aims to provide insight into the economic challenges faced by young entrepreneurs in today's world by exploring various themes and topics.

Fig. 10

Keywords—Research perspective 2

Social entrepreneurship differs from other types of entrepreneurship in that it prioritizes promoting social value and development over economic profit (Mair & Martí, 2006). The concept of social enterprise and social entrepreneurship has gained momentum in the European Union and the United States (Defourny & Nyssens, 2021; Mair & Martí, 2006), leading to increased case studies in business schools (Yin, 2009) and training programs aimed at vulnerable populations to provide knowledge, business skills, and psychosocial development, including qualities like self-esteem, resilience, and self-efficacy (Tam et al., 2021). However, entrepreneurs must also understand environmental aspects (Dana & Dana, 2005).

Elkington and Hartigan (2008) stress the importance of this cluster in developing economies like Tunisia, where the entrepreneurial spirit of young people raises concerns among policymakers responsible for new forms of entrepreneurship such as social enterprises. Yunus (2007) describes unrestricted capitalism, where the rich become richer, the strong dominate, the weak are excluded, and current mechanisms to control capitalism in favor of the poor have been inadequate.

Social entrepreneurship and innovation are valid strategies for promoting the advancement of rural youth, as described by Liceras Ruiz and Romero Sánchez (2016), while Uduji and Okolo-Obasi (2021) investigated the impact of providing essential agricultural skills and knowledge to rural youth in Nigeria’s Delta region.

The resilience of women entrepreneurs is highlighted in Thomas and Jose’s (2020) study. Women reflect their lived experiences and demonstrate self-motivation and resilience when faced with obstacles and impediments.

Regarding this subject, case studies such as those conducted by Ong et al. (2021) in Malaysia highlight that the involvement of young individuals in social entrepreneurial endeavors plays a crucial role in developing their sense of purpose. These activities facilitate the development of social awareness, foster prosocial connections, enhance capacity building, and empower personal agency among the youth. Additionally, findings from Bublitz et al. (2021), derived from their research involving established young social entrepreneurs and organizations supporting social entrepreneurship initiatives, suggest that these individuals come from diverse backgrounds, and their engagement in such endeavors is deeply intertwined with their life aspirations. In light of this, it is imperative for parents, educators, youth organizations, and other stakeholders aiming to foster social entrepreneurship among young people to acknowledge the multitude of pathways through which individuals may embrace this role. Recognizing that all young individuals possess the potential to effect positive social change, it becomes essential to create an environment conducive to nurturing their capabilities and aspirations.

Taking the above considerations into account, it is evident that social enterprises are distinguished by their emphasis on promoting social value over pursuing economic gains—a characteristic that has facilitated significant advancements in such business initiatives in the European Union and the United States. It has also sparked interest in case studies of youth social organizations in business schools, along with programs aimed at training vulnerable populations in social entrepreneurship. These endeavors not only equip people with business skills, but also strengthen their self-esteem, resilience, and self-efficacy. Hence the importance of these enterprises in economies characterized by low levels of wealth or limited industrial development.

The entrepreneurial spirit of young people has drawn the interest of various entities, particularly those tasked with formulating entrepreneurship policies. Regarding young people in rural areas, for instance, social entrepreneurship and social innovation can be effective strategies for promoting their advancement. Additionally, women stand out as strong entrepreneurs, demonstrating their experience and resilience by entering the business world despite encountering significant resistance and obstacles.

Cluster 3: social capital, social changes, innovation, and youth

The present research aims to explore the interconnectedness between social capital, social changes, sports, innovation, youth, community, and organizations, and their impact on youth social enterprises in promoting social transformation within their respective communities, cities, regions, or countries (see Fig. 11). The following section provides a comprehensive analysis of the various themes and activities that are associated with youth social entrepreneurship in existing research studies.

Fig. 11

Keywords—Research perspective 3

Social capital has been defined as the binding force that facilitates social relationships between individuals, groups, and communities (Valenzuela et al., 2020). Portes (1998) expanded the concept of social capital from an individual good to a characteristic of communities and even nations. Moreover, Granovetter (1973) recognized social capital as the link between micro and macro levels, providing opportunities for individuals and integrating communities.

For youth, innovative practices in youth organization and development can help mitigate the challenges of daily life (Ginwright & Cammarota, 2002). Sports, in particular, have been viewed as an opportunity to engage young people in sports activities, education, employment, and training, as demonstrated in Haudenhuyse et al., (2012) study of socially vulnerable youth. In it, different interviews were conducted so as to obtain information on how young people who are considered socially vulnerable can practice and experience sports thus reducing their level of vulnerability.

Another innovative strategy proposed by Yin (2009) involves using case studies as an empirical research method that follows specific procedures. Although each chapter may be independent, they are all linked to other stages of the research process. Salvatore et al. (2021) applied case studies to analyze the role of sustainable tourism as a means to promote innovation in rural areas, where local tourism can address social problems related to economic and territorial marginality, thus enhancing the habitability of towns.

Putnam’s (2000) academic approach suggests that people have become increasingly disconnected from one another, and social structures such as parent-teacher associations, the church, and political parties have disintegrated. In this academic area, Bourdieu and Richardson’s (1986) study highlighted that the majority of Brazilian teachers do not experience social mobility while pursuing their undergraduate programs, which negatively affects their access to culture and adds to the strategies of federalism due to their willingness to live in areas with low Human Development Index.

The impact of social innovations has been exemplified across various domains, including healthcare, as demonstrated in studies such as the one proposed by de Villiers (2021). Drawing from the context of pervasive social inequalities, poverty, and unemployment prevalent in South Africa, it becomes evident that health outcomes are intricately intertwined. The implementation of social innovations holds promise for instigating positive transformations in healthcare delivery. However, a crucial insight from the analysis of innovation cases is that the healthcare system cannot autonomously adapt to incorporate social innovation; achieving this requires collaborative efforts between policymakers, state agencies, and the implementation of innovative strategies aimed at an integrated and efficacious change.

Furthermore, social innovation has emerged as a pivotal force in shaping climate change policies and fostering national development agendas. Chirambo’s (2021) research highlights how social innovation and entrepreneurship can bolster resilience against climate change by enhancing the pursuit of sustainable development goals. The findings reveal the transformative potential of these two elements in catalyzing the emergence of new social paradigms that will reduce structural inequalities and increase investment in sectors such as agriculture. This integration of entrepreneurship and climate change policies embodies a synergistic approach towards addressing multifaceted societal challenges.

Taking the aforementioned considerations into account, it becomes evident that social capital is defined as a cohesive force that strengthens social relationships among individuals, groups, communities, and even nations. In this manner, social capital serves as the bridge between micro and macro levels, offering opportunities for individuals and fostering community integration. For young people, innovative practices can aid in mitigating the challenges of everyday life. Sports, for instance, have been recognized as a path to engage this demographic in educational, employment, and training activities, thereby diminishing their level of vulnerability.

Conclusions

Youth social enterprises have become an area of recurring research interest due to their diverse approaches and areas of emphasis. The present work conducted a scientific mapping and network analysis that identified 133 documents registered within the reference period of the query in Scopus and WoS. The bibliometric indicators revealed that the United States represented the highest number of publications, accounting for 14.3% of the total and collaborating mainly with the United Kingdom. K. Ferguson emerged as the author with the best bibliometric indicators, with three publications, 1728 citations, and an H-index of 25. The International Journal of Technology Management ranked as the top publication in the field.

The research perspectives were classified into three clusters. The first cluster centered on strategies for social enterprises that considered the performance and success of non-profit organizations. The second area of research focused on employment factors, particularly for individuals with mental illnesses and homeless youth, revealing that training is a decisive factor for good job performance and improved quality of life. Finally, the third perspective highlighted the importance of support policies in driving the development of social enterprises and improving their performance. Overall, the three clusters offer new strategies, propose solutions, promote social transformation, and enhance the understanding of youth social enterprises.

Limitations and future lines of research

The process of selecting articles for this study was conducted meticulously, employing objectivity and quantitative methodologies. This encompassed a thorough analysis covering a wide range of topics pertinent to youth social enterprises. The methodology encompassed an analysis of 133 documents sourced from the Tree of Science to identify original research (root), structural aspects (trunk), and emerging research trends (cluster). The articles within the clusters were selected based on their impact on the PageRank factor, potentially introducing bias in the examination of study topics. While the scientific community has endorsed the bibliometric methods used in this article for their capacity to yield decisive results, it remains crucial to supplement and corroborate the findings presented here with alternative research tools. It is noteworthy that studies exclusively sourced from the Scopus and WoS databases were chosen for this study, underscoring the need to explore alternative sources for future research. Consequently, an agenda is outlined for subsequent research to address this aspect in a more comprehensive manner (see Table 4).

Table 4 Proposal for future lines of research

Future research directions suggest looking into critical aspects within the social and business domains, each presenting unique challenges warranting thorough examination. Of particular interest is the quest for innovative strategies to tackle the challenges faced by homeless youth. However, this endeavor is complicated by the multifaceted nature of the root causes contributing to their predicament, as well as the diverse urban landscapes where this phenomenon unfolds. A comprehensive understanding of the interplay among subcontexts within street environments and the anticipated rise in mental health issues underscores the imperative to approach these issues holistically. This entails considering the intricate interplay of social, economic, and cultural factors that influence them.

On the other hand, exploring strategic options for social enterprises within the business realm emerges as a key area of inquiry, given the significant influence and public perception these initiatives can command, shaped by cultural, economic, and social factors. Additionally, the issue of employee empowerment within social enterprises attracts attention, particularly concerning the necessity to navigate resistance within established hierarchical structures and organizational cultures. Meanwhile, the imperative to establish secondary transition programs for adolescents dealing with emotional and behavioral disorders underscores the significance of tackling the logistical, financial, and resource-related challenges inherent in this context.