A bibliometric analysis of the Journal of Economic and Financial Sciences (2007-2016)

Abstract

The Journal of Economic and Financial Sciences (JEF) reaches its tenth year of publishing in 2016. This paper explores the manuscript characteristics, authorship dynamics and main research trends of the journal’s first decade by analysing 245 published academic papers that appeared in the journal between 2007 and 2016. Using the principles of bibliometrics, the body of literature is analysed, with a number of trends emerging. The analysis explores, inter alia, the geographic distribution of contributing institutions, the degree of collaboration, and the main topics that were focused on in the journal’s first decade. The analysis shows that the majority of papers were written by more than one author, with contributing institutions spread out across South Africa. Furthermore, the analysis shows that the journal focussed mainly on matters of Economics (more specifically development economics, economic geography, economic growth and economic impact of certain events), Taxation (more specifically income tax matters, research on various Tax Acts, and tax compliance) and Finance (more specifically, research on financial crises, financial development, financial distress, financial performance, financial markets, and financial reporting/statements), while also making contributions to the fields of education, economic sociology, tourism studies and others.