Mapping of microfinance performance-based research: A bibliometric analysis

Microfinance institutions have provided financial services to the poor in developing countries. The evaluation of Microfinance Institutions’ (MFIs) performance has long been a scholarly concern, necessitating comprehensive examination. The study aimed to identify current trends, investigate the most influential studies, and determine associated and evolving themes in this field, with a focus on the performance aspect of MFIs. The study employed bibliometric analysis to evaluate contemporary microfinance trends, frameworks, opportunities, and challenges, aiming to identify expected outcomes. Bibliographic data from 1,467 scholarly publications indexed in the Scopus database between 2001 and 2021 were utilized. The VOSviewer software was employed to analyze the data and present results. An increasing publication trend was observed, notably after 2006. The most prominent and contributing authors, as well as the sources of their publications, were recognized. The study found that “microcredit,” “poverty,” and “outreach” are vital specialized themes, while “microfinance” and “microfinance institutions” are core research topics. An additional assessment of current emerging issues revealed rising attention to “fintech” and “crowdfunding.” The findings offer researchers a thorough understanding of the trajectory of microfinance performance research and highlight prospective routes for future exploration in the field.