The relational dynamics of social entrepreneurship: a systematic review of interpersonal trust and sustainable social impact

Introduction: Despite the increasing prominence of social entrepreneurship as a response to pervasive social, economic and environmental challenges, the mechanisms through which it achieves lasting and large-scale impact remain poorly theorised. This systematic review aims to describe the intellectual structure of social entrepreneurship and sustainability literature and delineate the mechanisms through which social enterprises achieve positive sustainable impact. Methodology: This study follows a systematic review approach combining bibliometric and thematic analysis. Scopus database was used for analysis. Results: The study brings to light five major themes: socio-institutional dynamics; corporate sustainability and circular economy strategies; environmental innovation and sustainable finance; climate transition trajectories; and digital transformation in smart urban systems. The findings demonstrate multi-level mechanisms of mission-driven innovation, hybrid business models, stakeholder engagement, institutional embedding and digital hybridity that interlink social entrepreneurship action with sustainable impact. Discussion: This review develops a comprehensive conceptual framework and outlines a future research agenda aimed at addressing key challenges in the field, including measurement gaps, geographic disparities, and the intersectionality of social, environmental, and economic dimensions.