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Microcredit and Poverty Alleviation: A Bibliometric Analysis of Global Research Trends and Intellectual Structure Space

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Listed:
  • Zuraidah Mohamed Isa
  • Zaiful Affendi Ahmad Zabib
  • Rini Lestari
  • Afida Ahmad

Abstract

This study conducts a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to map the global research landscape on microcredit and poverty alleviation, addressing the central question: What are the global research trends and intellectual structures within this field? The analysis follows a systematic approach guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework to ensure transparency and replicability. A total of 257 Scopus-indexed publications from 1996 to 2026 were examined. To ensure analytical robustness, the study employed Harzing’s Publish or Perish (PoP) and OpenRefine to extract and refine citation metrics, facilitating the calculation of key indicators such as the h-index, g-index, citation counts, and average citations per paper (Harzing, 2007). The study also employs VOSviewer to examine publication patterns, co-authorship networks, keyword co-occurrence, and network visualization. In addition, the results reveal a steady increase in publications since 2017, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and digital financial inclusion initiatives. World Development, Journal of Development Studies, and Economic and Political Weekly emerged as the most active source titles. Citation analysis demonstrates a mature intellectual structure, with highly cited works such as Karlan and Zinman (2011) and Crépon et al. (2015) highlighting a methodological shift toward causal inference. Collectively, the findings underscore the field’s evolution toward interdisciplinary, evidence-based inquiry that continues to shape global poverty alleviation discourse.

Suggested Citation

  • Zuraidah Mohamed Isa & Zaiful Affendi Ahmad Zabib & Rini Lestari & Afida Ahmad, 2025. "Microcredit and Poverty Alleviation: A Bibliometric Analysis of Global Research Trends and Intellectual Structure Space," Information Management and Business Review, AMH International, vol. 17(4), pages 94-111.
    • Handle: RePEc:rnd:arimbr:v:17:y:2025:i:4:p:94-111
    DOI: 10.22610/imbr.v17i4(I).4740
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Alessandro Tarozzi & Jaikishan Desai & Kristin Johnson, 2013. "On the impact of microcredit: Evidence from a randomized intervention in rural Ethiopia," Economics Working Papers 1407, Department of Economics and Business, Universitat Pompeu Fabra.
    2. Alessandro Tarozzi & Jaikishan Desai & Kristin Johnson, 2015. "The Impacts of Microcredit: Evidence from Ethiopia," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 7(1), pages 54-89, January.
    3. Wajid Khan & Ikram Ullah & Sun Shaorong, 2024. "The Income Augmenting and Budget Tightening Impacts of Microfinance: Theory and Evidence from Pakistan," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(3), pages 21582440241, August.
    4. Mersland, Roy & Strøm, R. Øystein, 2010. "Microfinance Mission Drift?," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 38(1), pages 28-36.
    5. Shantana R. Halder & Paul Mosley, 2004. "Working with the ultra-poor: learning from BRAC experiences," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 16(3), pages 387-406.
    6. Jonathan Morduch, 1999. "The Microfinance Promise," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 37(4), pages 1569-1614, December.
    7. Mark M. Pitt & Shahidur R. Khandker, 1998. "The Impact of Group-Based Credit Programs on Poor Households in Bangladesh: Does the Gender of Participants Matter?," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 106(5), pages 958-996, October.
    8. Dean Karlan & Nathanael Goldberg, 2011. "Microfinance Evaluation Strategies: Notes on Methodology and Findings," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Beatriz Armendáriz & Marc Labie (ed.), The Handbook Of Microfinance, chapter 2, pages 17-58, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
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