Microfinance: A bibliometric exploration of the knowledge landscape

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Economics
• Development Studies

Background:

• Microfinance is a significant social innovation providing financial services to excluded populations.
• Extensive research has been conducted on microfinance, expanding its knowledge base.
• Bibliometric analysis offers a systematic approach to understanding research landscapes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize the microfinance research landscape using bibliometric methods.
• To identify dominant research themes, geographical distributions, and influential publications in microfinance.
• To trace the evolution of research topics and forecast future trends in microfinance.

Main Methods:

• Bibliometric analysis of 1599 articles published between 1987 and 2022.
• Performance analysis to identify research trends, geographical distribution, and influential works.
• Thematic and knowledge base analysis to categorize research into impact, management, and performance.

Main Results:

• Microfinance research is categorized into three main themes: impact, management, and performance/efficiency.
• Analysis reveals geographical distribution patterns and identifies key influential publications.
• The study traces the historical evolution of research topics and predicts future directions.

Conclusions:

• This bibliometric study provides a comprehensive overview of the microfinance research field.
• It serves as a valuable reference for researchers, academics, and policymakers.
• Insights into trends, seminal works, and future directions can guide future research endeavors.