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Mapping the literature trends of consumer behavior and sustainability: insights from a bibliometric analysis approach

Author

Listed:
  • Mohammed Hael

    (Yunnan University of Finance and Economics)

  • Saddam A. Hazaea

    (Southwestern University of Finance and Economics)

  • Honglie Zhang

    (Yunnan University of Finance and Economics)

  • Hadi Mareeh

    (Shandong University)

Abstract

Consumer behavior and sustainability are among topics that have recently received a lot of interest among social and academic circles, as there has been a significant increase in studies that discuss these topics. So, expanding knowledge and providing a comprehensive perspective on this topic is necessary. This paper brings together 1479 articles on consumer behavior and sustainability published over 27 years (1995–July, 2023) in the Scopus database, subjected to bibliometric analysis and content analysis. The results show that the number of publications has gradually increased, and the most contributing countries are the USA, China, and Italy, which contributed about 36% of the total number of publications. The USA has gone from a publication in 1997 to 23 publications in 2023, which may increase significantly by the end of the year. The results also reveal that consumer behavior is a significant factor in promoting sustainability. We identified the evolution of the topic’s most frequently used keywords and hotspots by analyzing keywords over three periods. The study results confirm that researchers have increased their focus on consumer behavior and sustainability, especially in the third phase. The results provide valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners interested in understanding and promoting responsible consumption and sustainable development. Overall, this study contributes to the existing literature by providing a comprehensive overview of the research landscape on consumer behavior and sustainability while outlining future research directions.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohammed Hael & Saddam A. Hazaea & Honglie Zhang & Hadi Mareeh, 2025. "Mapping the literature trends of consumer behavior and sustainability: insights from a bibliometric analysis approach," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 27(5), pages 9841-9871, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:27:y:2025:i:5:d:10.1007_s10668-023-04382-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-023-04382-8
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