Background The state sector continues to play a significant role in the development of the global economy. Proper corporate governance is crucial to ensure the positive contribution of state-owned enterprises to the efficiency of the economy and its competitiveness. Despite the increasing importance of state-owned enterprises for the development of global gross domestic product and the quality of public services provided, research on corporate governance in state-owned enterprises is not widely represented in the world literature. Research aims This article provides a bibliographic analysis of the existing scientific work on corporate governance in state-owned enterprises. The aim of the analysis is to systematise the scientific output in this field, to demonstrate the scale of interest in this subject among researchers, and to indicate the predominant directions of research, taking into account their geographical origin. Methodology This study uses a systematic literature review. Findings The results of the research show that the existing scientific work in this field is insignificant in relation to the number of state-owned enterprises operating worldwide and their importance for the development of the global economy. Research by dominant research groups from the point of view of geography has shown that there is a clear variation in the dominant direction of research on corporate governance in state-owned enterprises, which is an indication of the different interests of researchers in different geographic areas. Analysing the factors underlying the differentiation just described could provide an incentive for further empirical research in this area.

Purpose In countries with a developed economy, including Poland, the state seeks to retain control of enterprises (companies) operating in so-called strategic sectors, such as fuel and energy, chemical industry, transport, and telecommunications infrastructure. Proper control of these entities not only determines the effective implementation of economic policy, but it is also important to ensure the economic sovereignty of the state and public security. The purpose of this study is to identify and analyze control-enhancing mechanisms in SOEs listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE), taking into account the division between majority and minority state ownership. Methodology Analysis of documentation. Findings Based on the analysis of statutes and shareholder structures of the investigated entities, it is established that for companies with minority state ownership, the state uses control-enhancing mechanisms to gain effective control of the company. Similar mechanisms are also applied in companies with majority state ownership, where these mechanisms contribute to achieving full control of the company. The most commonly used mechanism is a dominant shareholder status and limitation of voting rights for shareholders other than the state. Originality Apart from state-owned companies, this analysis also included companies indirectly controlled by the state.