Performance of microfinance institutions in poverty alleviation: mapping the research front

Despite of a saturated literature on poverty alleviation through microfinance institutions, the link between performance of microfinance institutions and poverty alleviation has much scope to explore. Thus far, only 87 Scopus indexed documents are identified in this field. The aim of this paper is to scientifically map the existing literature using both bibliometric and systematic literature review. The findings of this study reveal the influential aspects of literature in terms of countries, institutions, journals, authors, articles, and topics. This paper also unveils five key research streams in existing literature: 1) social outreach, financial sustainability and poverty alleviation; 2) factors affecting MFIs; 3) efficiency of MFIs; 4) mission drift; 5) Islamic microfinance.