Microfinance Institutions – A Way to Rural Development – A Bibliometric Analysis
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Microfinance Institutions – A Way to Rural Development - A Bibliometric Analysis
Dr. Krishna M B 1, Dr. Rajani K G 2, & Dr Sujith T S 3
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Commerce and Management, School of Arts, Humanities
and Commerce, Amrita Viswa Vidyapeetham, Kochi Campus, India, email:
krishnambaimi@gmail.com,
2 Assistant Professor (Sr. Gd.), Department of Commerce and Management, School of Arts,
Humanities and Commerce, Amrita Viswa Vidyapeetham, Kochi Campus, India.
3 Assistant Professor, Department of Commerce and Management, School of Arts, Humanities
and Commerce, Amrita Viswa Vidyapeetham, Kochi Campus, India.
Abstract: Microfinance institutions have evolved into a central mechanism for promoting financial inclusion and rural development, yet the academic discourse surrounding their effectiveness and developmental impact remains dispersed across multiple conceptual and methodological traditions. This study undertakes a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to map the scientific landscape of microfinance research with a specific focus on its role in rural development. Using data extracted from the Scopus database and analyzed through VOS viewer and Bibliometrix (R-package), the study identifies publication trends, influential authors, dominant thematic clusters, and emerging research fronts over the past three decades. The findings reveal a consistent upward trajectory in publication output, with a pronounced emphasis on microcredit as the dominant research theme. The literature is largely shaped by contributions from institutions based in the USA and Malaysia, indicating strong international research engagement. Emerging thematic clusters highlight poverty eradication and rural empowerment as critical focal areas for future inquiry. Despite this progress, the analysis uncovers a significant gap: limited empirical research exploring the diverse types of MFIs and their differentiated impact on rural communities. Addressing this gap is essential for advancing a more holistic understanding of the transformative capacity of microfinance and its evolving role within the rural economic landscape.
Keywords: Bibliometric analysis, Financial Inclusion, Joint Liability Groups, Microfinance, Poverty Eradication, Rural Empowerment, Sustainable Development
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