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Abstract
Objective: To analyze the scientific literature on credit unions, identifying thematic trends that may guide future research.
Design/Methodology/Approach: A review of 297 papers retrieved from the Scopus database, published between 2013 and 2024, using the search terms “credit cooperatives” and “loan cooperatives.” Bibliometric analysis was conducted with the Bibliometrix software.
Results: Scientific production on the topic has shown sustained growth over the past five years. China leads in number of publications, while the journal REVESCO stands out as the most productive. The author with the highest number of publications is Manthuva D. of Strathmore University Business School, who also ranks among the most cited. The thematic analysis identifies four clusters: credit provision, finance, decision-making, and information management. The studies address issues such as financial and social efficiency, local economic development, gender equity, and social capital.
Limitations/Implications: The study is limited to documents indexed in Scopus.
Findings/Conclusions: The topic remains highly relevant and offers ample opportunities for further research to strengthen the role of these organizations.