Mapping Global Social Policy Research: A Bibliometric Analysis Based on Scopus Data

Abstract

This study analyses 18,645 articles searched with the keyword ‘social policy’ published in the Scopus database between 2005 and 2024 through bibliometric analysis. In the analyses performed using VOSviewer software, trends in global social policy literature, prominent research topics and future research directions are systematically evaluated. The findings of the study show that social policy research has increased in parallel with global events such as the 2008 economic crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. In the publication and citation analysis, the USA, the UK and Australia were identified as the leading countries, while the University of Oxford and the University of Amsterdam stood out as the most productive institutions. In the keyword analysis, ‘social policy’, “poverty”, ‘welfare state’ and ‘social protection’ were identified as the most frequently used words. These results show that global economic crises and social inequalities shape the research agenda in the field. The study systematically maps the social policy literature and reveals the prominent themes in the field. It recommends in-depth studies on the impact of global crises, demographic transformations and technological developments on social policies, especially in developing countries.