Mapping the landscape of exchange-traded funds: a bibliometric analysis

Purpose This paper aims to summarize key developments in the field of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) research, along with key contributors, their contributions, major themes and potential research prospects. Design/methodology/approach In this study, the authors conducted a bibliometric analysis of 519 papers extracted from the Scopus database to evaluate the trends in worldwide ETF research. Co-occurrence of author keywords analysis was used to assess the research themes, while co-citation network analysis was carried out to evaluate the intellectual framework of ETF research. Findings The analysis revealed contradictory evidence on the relation between ETFs and their underlying assets with reference to price efficiency, liquidity and other factors. Furthermore, extensive research in this field is inclined toward equity, gold and commodity ETFs, setting the scope for research in contemporary assets such as bitcoin and clean energy ETFs. Future studies could also compare different types of ETFs in greater detail. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, scant reviews are available on the diverse landscape of ETFs. The authors took this opportunity to scientifically map the ETF literature to comprehend the current state and open future prospects. The study offers a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners seeking to comprehend the current research trends and future prospects in the ETFs research landscape.