Bibliometric Analysis of Studies on Digital Finance

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 14 Sayı: 5, 2882 - 2902, 31.12.2025

Hasan Durmuş , Hülya Er

https://doi.org/10.15869/itobiad.1770281

Öz

In recent years, academic interest in digital finance, which enables financial transactions to be conducted via digital platforms, has been rapidly increasing, making it crucial to examine the aspects of digital finance that stand out in the literature. The aim of this study is to comprehensively analyze studies conducted in the field of digital finance between 2018 and 2025. In this context, trends, prominent themes, and scientific impacts in the field are evaluated using the Web of Science database using bibliometric analysis. In the analysis conducted using Bibliometrix R Studio software, 372 articles were examined. The study results indicate that digital finance is experiencing a rapid increase in academic interest. The themes of sustainability, environmental impact, fintech applications, and financial inclusion have been prominent in research in digital finance, particularly since 2021. Finance Research Letters, Environmental Science and Pollution Research, and Sustainability stand out among the most productive journals. A country-level analysis found that China leads in both the number of publications and the number of citations. Bibliometric network analyses indicate that the literature is structured around three main clusters. These clusters are: (i) studies focused on digital finance, fintech, and economic growth; (ii) digital transformation and e-commerce applications; and (iii) financial inclusion and regional applications in developing countries. Furthermore, the word cloud and conceptual maps reveal that digital finance is not only a technological transformation but also directly related to economic growth, social inclusion, and sustainable development. This study highlights the increasing interdisciplinary nature of digital finance research and offers data-based directions for future research. In particular, the developing relationship between digital finance and sustainability, the increasing scrutiny of the social impacts of fintech applications, and the rise of financial inclusion in developing countries are considered as potential research areas that can make significant contributions to the literature.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Finance , Digital Finance , Financial Technologies , Financial Inclusion , Sustainable Development , Bibliometric Analysis

Dijital Finans Üzerine Yapılan Çalışmaların Bibliyometrik Analizi

Öz

Son yıllarda, finansal işlemlerin dijital platformlar aracılığıyla gerçekleştirilmesini sağlayan dijital finans alanına yönelik akademik ilgi hızla artmakta ve bu gelişim dijital finansın literatürde hangi yönleriyle öne çıktığını incelemeyi önemli hale getirmektedir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, 2018–2025 yılları arasında dijital finans alanında yapılan çalışmaları kapsamlı bir şekilde analiz etmektir. Bu kapsamda, Web of Science ( WoS) veri tabanı kullanılarak bibliyometrik analiz yöntemiyle alandaki eğilimleri, öne çıkan temaları ve bilimsel etki alanları değerlendirilmektedir. Bibliometrix R Studio yazılımı kullanılarak yürütülen analizde, 372 makale incelenmiştir. Çalışma sonuçlarına göre, dijital finansın akademik ilgi açısından hızlı bir yükseliş trendi gösterdiği tespit edilmiştir. Özellikle 2021 yılı ve sonrası, dijital finans alanındaki araştırmalarda sürdürülebilirlik, çevresel etki, fintek uygulamaları ve finansal kapsayıcılık temalarının öne çıktığı görülmüştür. En üretken dergiler arasında, Finance Research Letters, Environmental Science and Pollution Research ve Sustainability öne çıkmaktadır. Ülke düzeyinde yapılan incelemede ise Çin’in hem yayın sayısı hem de atıf düzeyi bakımından lider konumda olduğu belirlenmiştir. Bibliyometrik ağ analizleri, literatürün üç temel küme etrafında şekillendiğini göstermektedir. Bu kümeler; (i) dijital finans, fintek ve ekonomik büyüme odaklı çalışmalar, (ii) dijital dönüşüm ve e-ticaret uygulamaları ve (iii) gelişmekte olan ülkelerde finansal kapsayıcılık ile bölgesel uygulamalardır. Ayrıca, kelime bulutu ve kavramsal haritalar, dijital finansın yalnızca teknolojik bir dönüşüm olmadığını, aynı zamanda ekonomik büyüme, sosyal kapsayıcılık ve sürdürülebilir kalkınma ile doğrudan ilişkili olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. Bu çalışma, dijital finans araştırmalarının artan disiplinler arası yapısına dikkat çekmekte ve gelecekteki araştırmalar için veri temelli yönlendirmeler sunmaktadır. Özellikle dijital finans ile sürdürülebilirlik arasındaki ilişkinin gelişmekte olması, fintek uygulamalarının toplumsal etkilerinin giderek daha fazla incelenmesi ve gelişmekte olan ülkelerde finansal kapsayıcılığın ön plana çıkması, literatüre önemli katkılar sağlayabilecek potansiyel araştırma alanları olarak değerlendirilmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Finans , Dijital Finans , Finansal Teknolojiler , Finansal Kapsayıcılık , Sürdürülebilir Kalkınma , Bibliyometrik Analiz

Kaynakça

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