Mapping the Evolution of Digital Economy Business Models: A Decade of Insights through Bibliometric Analysis

This study maps the evolution of research on digital economy business models over the past decade using bibliometric methods. Drawing on 226 articles retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (2013–2022), CiteSpace software was employed to visualize co-authorship, institutional networks, high-frequency and burst keywords, clusters, and co-citation patterns. The analysis reveals rapid growth of scholarship since 2018, yet highlights fragmented collaboration networks and limited integration across disciplines. Research hotspots such as digital transformation, platform innovation, and the sharing economy dominate the field, while emerging themes including artificial intelligence, circular economy, and digital entrepreneurship illustrate its expanding scope. Despite significant progress, the field remains in an exploratory stage, lacking a cohesive theoretical core. The study contributes by refining the intellectual map of digital economy business model research, identifying gaps, and outlining future directions for building integrated frameworks that link theory, innovation, and governance.