Governance Indicators in Sustainable Banking: A Comprehensive Bibliometric Analysis for Enhanced Sustainability

This study’s goal is to present a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of governance measures in relation to sustainable banking, with a focus on the development of themes over time, interdisciplinary approaches, and the contribution of various regions of the world to this field. A bibliometric assessment was performed based on the analysis of trends, geographic contributions, and thematic clustering to assess the intellectual structure and research advancement of governance indicators in sustainable banking. Key areas of focus in the analysis included leading figures and institutions in the field and key publications and issues in their works. The synthesis suggests the significance of the “governance approach”, which emerged as one of the key areas connecting practices of sustainability, economic growth, and institutions. It is emphasized that, after 2010, the emphasis of research shifted from corporate governance to more comprehensive, ‘sustainable development’ models with emphasis on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) parameters within banking systems. The international aspect of research, which largely involves American, Chinese, and Indian scholars, demonstrates the integrative and varied nature of scholarly activity, while the focus of developing countries is on regional policy adaptation. This study contributes to a better understanding of the context and the complexity of the roles played by governance indicators in regard to sustainable banking. It emphasizes the need to integrate operational frameworks and criteria measures to assess governance control and reach suitable outcomes. On the one hand, it explores the scope, and on the other, it supports further research and thus enriches further the development of sustainable governance practices within the banking sector and its related fields.