Topics and methods in economics, finance, and business journals: A content analysis enquiry

This study analyzes the abstracts and titles of 33,454 business finance, economics, management, and business articles published in ISI (frequently cited) journals during 2013-14. The sample represents 46.4 percent of all papers published in ISI journals in those years, and 52.7 percent of the articles published in the selected categories. The journals were ranked in four Q categories according to their impact factors. The analysis revealed that some topics persisted in all Q groups, but others gained frequency by Q, which suggests that Q1 journals (those with higher impact factors) create trends that are followed by other publications. All Q groups have a methodological approach that is predominantly empirical rather than theoretical. In addition, while the business and management categories privileged case studies, economics studies emphasized panel data analyses. Finally, our study confirms the relevance of the English language in academia.