Cooperatives and rural development: A bibliometric analysis

Abstract

Cooperatives catalyze rural development by supporting economic inclusivity, social cohesion, and sustainable livelihoods. Even though cooperative models receive attention, this research interest originates within the bibliography. Bibliometric analysis looks at trends, seminal contributions, and policy-related thematic changes. However, systematic appraisal of the academic literature is still lagging in the field of cooperatives and rural development. This study analyzed trends and citation impact using data from the Scopus database. For citation analysis, co-authorship networks, and keyword mapping, VOSviewer and Biblioshiny were applied. The outcomes showed the most influential authors, journals, institutions, the main themes dominating the research, and emerging areas. The results further depicted cooperatives as responsive institutions in the process of governance reform, inclusive finance, sustainability, and rural empowerment, with new areas of interest in grassroots innovations, rural tourism, and institutional transformation. Increasing collaboration is also evident across continents, including North America, Asia, and Europe. The paper provides a comprehensive overview of cooperatives and rural development research, helping to develop cooperative models, inform policymaking, and foster cross-regional collaboration.