The noxious consequences of innovation: what do we know?

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.