A Bibliometric Analysis of Global Research Trends on Microfinance and Women's Empowerment: Insights, Patterns and Future Directions

Abstract

This study aims to perform an extensive bibliometric analysis of international research related to microfinance and women empowerment using a database of 700 peer-reviewed articles within the Scopus database. According to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), we systematically screened and analysed the data using the Biblioshiny interface of the Bibliometrix package which is based on R. In this study, performance analysis, keyword co-occurrence mapping, thematic development (or evolution), and network analysis were used to detect the intellectual scaffold, conceptual trends, and emerging research domains in the sphere. The results indicate a thematic evolution from early day concerns on access to credit and poverty reduction to current concerns and social-responsive policies such as digital financial inclusion, gender-responsive policies, and sustainable development. Thematic mapping demonstrates that although classic themes, such as microfinance institutions and financial inclusion, are still in the limelight, scholars are exploring newer fields, such as fintech empowerment, intersectionality, and impact assessment. Temporal reviews with respect to temporal trends show an interdisciplinary blend and a rising significance of ethical, technological, and policy concerns. The present research improves the literature by providing a structured overview of the knowledge base, highlighting research gaps, and suggesting future roles in empowering women through microfinance projects.