A Bibliometric Analysis of Women Entrepreneurship: Current Trends and Challenges

Marcus Goncalves () and Esteban De La Vega Ahumada
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Marcus Goncalves: Department of Administrative Science, Metropolitan College, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
Esteban De La Vega Ahumada: Department of Administrative Science, Metropolitan College, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA

Merits, 2025, vol. 5, issue 2, 1-32

Abstract: This study conducts a bibliometric and altmetric analysis of women’s entrepreneurship, examining research trends, challenges, and contributions to sustainable development. By analyzing 6729 journal articles from the Web of Science (1975–2024), this study employs citation analysis, co-citation analysis, and co-word analysis, alongside altmetric indicators, to assess research impact. Visualization tools such as VOSViewer (version 16.20) were used to map the scholarly landscape. Key findings highlight critical themes, including gender disparities, financial barriers, socio-cultural challenges, and digital transformation, underscoring the crucial role of women entrepreneurs in achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study identifies major research clusters, leading authors, and institutions that shape the field, while also revealing regional disparities in research output. The growing prevalence of open-access research has enhanced knowledge dissemination, yet access to financial and technological resources remains a challenge for women entrepreneurs. This study emphasizes the need for targeted policies to improve access to finance, digital tools, and entrepreneurial education, fostering an enabling ecosystem for women-led businesses. By integrating traditional bibliometric techniques with altmetrics, this research provides a comprehensive assessment of global trends in women’s entrepreneurship, offering valuable insights for academics, policymakers, and practitioners. It contributes to the literature on gender and entrepreneurship by identifying emerging themes and gaps, advocating for inclusive policies and enhanced support mechanisms to drive sustainable economic growth.

Keywords: women’s entrepreneurship; bibliometric analysis; altmetric analysis; gender disparities; open vs. close-access journals; UN SDGs; SDG 5; SDG 8; SDG 10 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J L M (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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