Women’s Economic Empowerment in the Digital Economy: A Bibliometric Analysis of Entrepreneurship, Inclusion, and Sustainable Development Research

Zainab Paracha, Umair Paracha and Asif Yaseen

Sustainable Business and Society in Emerging Economies, 2025, vol. 7, issue 4, 907-924

Abstract: Purpose: This research aims to analyze the impact of digital technology on women's economic empowerment, particularly in the context of entrepreneurship, in both developed and developing economies. While there is growing recognition of the transformative potential of digital finance and platform-based entrepreneurship, there are still gaps in access, regulatory issues, and uneven empowerment outcomes. This paper reviews the intellectual framework and thematic development in the literature from 2016-2025, focusing on the economic inclusion and empowerment of women in the digital economy.Design/Methodology/Approach: The study utilizes a bibliometric analysis and systematic literature review (SLR) approach, examining 50 articles indexed in Scopus between 2016 and 2025. The research categorizes the findings into two main thematic categories: financial inclusion and empowerment, which are closely linked with digital entrepreneurship, governance, and sustainable development. Network analyses are also conducted to understand interdisciplinary collaboration between technology, gender, and sustainability research streams.Findings: The findings indicate that there is significant research collaboration across multiple disciplines, including gender, technology, and sustainability. The research identifies that digital inclusion mechanisms are crucial for increasing women's participation in entrepreneurship and socio-economic development. However, disparities in access and institutional challenges persist. Financial inclusion and empowerment are highlighted as central themes, with a clear connection to sustainable development objectives.Implications/Originality/Value: This paper concludes that while digital inclusion mechanisms play a vital role in empowering women entrepreneurs, further research is necessary. Future studies should focus on causal analysis, gather longitudinal evidence, and develop governance models to reinforce sustainable and inclusive empowerment processes, especially in emerging technologies.

Keywords: Women’s Economic Empowerment; Digital Economy; Financial Inclusion; Women Entrepreneurship; Sustainable Development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:src:sbseec:v:7:y:2025:i:4:p:907-924

DOI: 10.26710/sbsee.v7i4.3649

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