A dynamic bibliometric analysis of financial inclusion and happiness with CiteSpace

Financial inclusion facilitates the exchange of information, reduces transaction costs, and lowers the barriers to the access of financial services. However, how this affects happiness remains unknown. The purpose of this study is to make bibliometric analysis between financial inclusion and happiness by using CiteSpace and find frontiers in the future by reviewing the literature at CiteSpace. In this study, 335 samples spanning from 2003 to 2023 were selected from the database of Web of Science. By using CiteSpace software and bibliometric methods, in this study, we can draw a map of author cooperation, institutional cooperation, keyword co-occurrence analysis, cluster analysis, and emergent word analysis in this field. Future research should focus on the influence of financial behavior on the relationship between financial inclusion and happiness. Digital financial inclusion may be a crucial factor in future research worldwide. These findings may be used as a reference for governments in policymaking. This study explores the relationship between financial inclusion and happiness using a bibliometric analysis over the past 20 years. By mapping global research trends, it highlights how financial inclusion, especially digital financial services, influences well-being. The findings are useful for policymakers, researchers, and financial institutions to better understand the benefits and risks of financial inclusion, ensuring that access to financial services leads to improved happiness and financial well-being. This study also suggests the need for future research to focus on financial literacy and cross-country comparisons to enhance policy effectiveness.