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Stream/Area:
-
Subject:
-
Paper ID:
IJSREM67142
Volume:
10 |
9 |
Sep 2026
Pages:
1-19
Publication Frequency:
Monthly (12 issues per year)
License:International Journal of Scientific Research in Engineering and Management follows the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) License, allowing free use and distribution with proper attribution.
Department of Management
Techno India University, West Bengal
This study maps the intellectual structure and global research landscape of Sustainable Finance and Digital Financial Literacy (DFL) through a bibliometric analysis of publications indexed in Scopus and Web of Science between 2021 and 2025. A final dataset of 250 peer-reviewed articles was analysed using VOSviewer (v1.6.x) and Microsoft Excel to examine publication trends, keyword co-occurrence networks, thematic clusters, and country-level collaboration patterns. Research output increased substantially from 2021 to 2024, while the lower number observed for 2025 reflects partial-year indexing at the time of data collection. Keyword co-occurrence analysis identifies five dominant thematic clusters: Green Finance and Environmental Sustainability, FinTech and Digital Finance, ESG and Corporate Performance, Digital Financial Literacy and Inclusion, and Digital Transformation and Circular Economy. Network mapping reveals strong conceptual linkages between technological innovation, sustainability frameworks, and literacy-oriented inclusion themes. Country collaboration analysis highlights the leadership of China, India, and the United States, alongside expanding cross-regional research partnerships. By systematically integrating fragmented research streams, this study provides a structured overview of thematic evolution, collaboration intensity, and emerging research directions within sustainable digital finance. The findings offer a foundation for future empirical and theory-driven investigations in this rapidly developing field.
KEYWORDS
This bibliometric study confirms that Sustainable Finance and Digital Financial Literacy (DFL) have evolved into an integrated and rapidly expanding research domain between 2021 and 2025. The thematic clusters reveal a strong convergence of FinTech innovation, ESG governance, green finance, and digital transformation within a unified sustainability framework. Importantly, the prominence and connectivity of DFL within the keyword network suggest that it represents an important thematic element in the sustainable finance research landscape. The literature frequently discusses DFL alongside technological advancement, financial inclusion, and responsible financial decision-making. The literature frequently discusses Digital Financial Literacy in relation to transparency, financial inclusion, and inclusive growth. The growing international collaboration patterns further indicate that sustainable digital finance is emerging as a global policy and research priority. Future research should move beyond descriptive mapping toward empirical models that test how DFL directly influences sustainable finance outcomes. The findings highlight the potential importance of strengthening Digital Financial Literacy in building more resilient, inclusive, and sustainability-oriented financial ecosystems.
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Publication Date
9/8/2026
Peer Review Type
Double-Blind Peer Review
Review Rounds: 2
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