REMARC UniPi

In spite of being considered an undisputed engine of growth, innovation can have noxious consequences for society and the environment. Using bibliometric techniques (i.e. bibliographic coupling and co-citation analysis), we conduct a review of the extant research on the noxious impacts of innovation. Although this is a relatively recent field of enquiry, we identified five strands of scholarly research, which, based on their focus, we have labelled: (A) Work-related consequences of technology acceptance; (B) Unsustainable transitions; (C) Innovation and growth downside effects; (D) The dangers of emerging technologies and (E) Open innovation’s dark side. We discuss the core ideas and research agendas in these research strands and the intellectual antecedents of each sub-community, and conclude by suggesting avenues for future research.