Table 5

Cluster analysis

Cluster no.Cluster nameKeywordsThemesSample references
Cluster 1ESG core and SustainabilityESG, sustainability, sustainable finance, environment, ratingsShows the core foundation of ESG research linking sustainability with financial and rating perspectivesAgosto et al. (2023), Sorrosal-Forradellas et al. (2023) 
Cluster 2ESG Rating Divergence and Market IssuesESG rating divergence, disagreement, information asymmetry, investor sentiment, ChinaFocuses on inconsistencies and reliability issues in ESG ratings due to market imperfectionsLiu et al. (2024), Wang et al. (2025) 
Cluster 3Governance and Credit Rating LinkESG rating, corporate governance, corporate social responsibility, credit ratingRepresents the connection between ESG and Credit rating, relevant to CRAsJeelani and Islam (2026), Seow and Ellili (2026) 
Cluster 4ESG and Financial ConstraintsESG rating, financing constraints, green innovationExplores how ESG affects firm financing and innovation activitiesCalabrese et al. (2025), Fu et al. (2024) 
Cluster 5ESG dimensions and AgenciesEnvironmental, Social, ESG rating agenciesHighlights institutional aspects and ESG components, include rating agenciesFu et al. (2024), Tsang et al. (2024) 
Cluster 6Sustainability Systems and FrameworksSustainability, rating systems, sustainable infrastructureFocus on frameworks and systems used for sustainability assessmentSorrosal-Forradellas et al. (2023), Suman et al. (2020) 
Source(s): Authors’ own compilation

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