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Mapping the landscape of sustainable finance (2004–2025): A bibliometric analysis

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  • Wang, Zhan
  • Xu, Lijuan

Abstract

Sustainable finance supports long-term investment and financing aligned with environmental, social, and economic goals. This study conducts a bibliometric analysis of 2,101 SSCI-indexed articles on sustainable finance (2004–2025) from the Web of Science (WoS) database. Using CiteSpace and VOSviewer, we examine the following key aspects, in terms of leading journals, institutions and countries, highly cited articles, core research themes and development trend of sustainable finance. Our findings contribute to the deeper understanding of knowledge landscape of sustainable finance and offer valuable insights for future academic inquiry, interdisciplinary collaboration, and policy development.

Suggested Citation

  • Wang, Zhan & Xu, Lijuan, 2025. "Mapping the landscape of sustainable finance (2004–2025): A bibliometric analysis," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 256(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:256:y:2025:i:c:s0165176525004628
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2025.112625
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lee, Chi-Chuan & Lee, Chien-Chiang, 2022. "How does green finance affect green total factor productivity? Evidence from China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    2. Alemu Mekonnen, 2014. "Economic Costs of Climate Change and Climate Finance with a Focus on Africa," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 23(suppl_2), pages 50-82.
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    6. Malte Toetzke & Anna Stünzi & Florian Egli, 2022. "Consistent and replicable estimation of bilateral climate finance," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 12(10), pages 897-900, October.
    7. Flammer, Caroline, 2021. "Corporate green bonds," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 142(2), pages 499-516.
    8. He, Lingyun & Liu, Rongyan & Zhong, Zhangqi & Wang, Deqing & Xia, Yufei, 2019. "Can green financial development promote renewable energy investment efficiency? A consideration of bank credit," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 974-984.
    9. Irfan, Muhammad & Razzaq, Asif & Sharif, Arshian & Yang, Xiaodong, 2022. "Influence mechanism between green finance and green innovation: Exploring regional policy intervention effects in China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
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    JEL classification:

    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth
    • G18 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • C89 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Other

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