Product fragmentation in global trade: A scientific mapping and performance evaluation

In the era of globalization, companies are increasingly involved in complex global supply chains and the issue of fragmentation of the global economy is arising due to conflicts between countries. Understanding the significant studies and trends related to outsourcing or international product fragmentation is crucial. The scientific mapping and performance analysis technique of the bibliometric analysis method is used in this paper to learn about literature on international product fragmentation. The “Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-analyses” (PRISMA) extracts empirical studies from Scopus database to evaluate the literature trend. The performance analysis includes the performance of nations, journals, institutions, and publication trends. Further, for in-depth analysis, scientific mapping included thematic analysis and keyword analysis, highlighting the themes and research gaps in the literature. The review finds that global trade runs on vertical specialisation and strategic value chain positioning rather than cost advantage. Value addition, technology advancement, and governance are key to sustaining fragmented global trade. The review will help relevant researchers, businesses, and policymakers have a general understanding of the literature available in this field and find future research directions.