Mapping the research landscape of corporate strategy and capital structure: a bibliometric analysis

Abstract

Purpose The aim of this study is to analyze the existing literature available on corporate strategy and capital structure with the help of a bibliometric analysis. Design/methodology/approach A total of 133 studies indexed in the Scopus database over the period from 1979 to 2024 are included and analyzed using the Biblioshiny package in RStudio along with VOSviewer for network visualization. Additionally, this study used biblioMagika and OpenRefine to harmonize and clean the data. Findings This study identified the leading contributors in terms of countries, authors, sources and documents and used various analysis techniques. The USA, Canada and the UK exhibited the most significant level of contribution. Furthermore, Bradford’s Law is applicable to the results of this study. The bibliographic coupling resulted in the five clusters indicating emerging themes in the field. Research limitations/implications The study’s findings will contribute to the academic landscape by providing an exhaustive examination of the concerned research field and will guide potential researchers for future research avenues. This study will also highlight the need for managers and policymakers to factor in diverse corporate strategies when shaping organization’s capital structures. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study represents the first attempt to map the landscape of this field through the presentation of insights derived from bibliometric analysis.