Mapping the intellectual landscape of financial inclusion and sustainable development: a bibliometric analysis

Abstract

Purpose This research mirrors a 360° probe into bibliometric review of various studies aimed to examine the relationship between financial inclusion and sustainable development (FI and SD). It also offers a conspectus of apex contributors, influential articles, key journals and potential avenues for further research in this crucial area of global progress. Design/methodology/approach The study is the abstract of a total 233 papers on the subject representing a period between 2012 and 2023 in the Scopus database in the domain. This investigation probes into publication trends, the most inexhaustible contributors by national journals, publications and authors. The study conducts keyword co-occurrence analysis and examines thematic evolution using Vosviewer and Biblioshiny. Findings The findings reveal four prominent clusters: (a) Financial growth with FI, (b) Economic Empowerment with Sustainable Goals, (c) Environmental Sustainability and (d) Microfinance and Digital Era. Furthermore, the study paves way for the future research agenda with the help of these research themes. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first of its kind in deeply probing the literature on FI and SD from a bibliometric perspective. Hence the findings of this study is a powerful weapon for researchers and practitioners coupled with future research inquiries, offering valuable insights and establishing robust quantitative foundations for advancing knowledge in the realms of FI and SD.