Bibliometric review: the economic impacts of natural disasters

Purpose The primary objective of this study is to provide insights into the current state of research on the economic impacts of natural disasters on development and growth. Design/methodology/approach This study conducted a bibliometric analysis focusing on leading authors, journals, countries, the most frequently cited documents and keywords in the domain of the economic impacts of natural disasters on development and growth. Using the Scopus database, 712 papers spanning from 1975 to 2023 were examined. Bibliometric networks were created using the VOSviewer software. Findings The findings of this study reveal a rising interest in understanding the economic impacts of natural disasters on development and growth, with notable contributions from authors like (i) Jidong Wu, (ii) Mark Skidmore, (iii) Ning Li and (iv) Hideki Toya. Leading journals such as (a) Natural Hazards and (b) Sustainability play crucial roles in disseminating findings and highlighting the growing recognition of this field. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the first attempts to conduct a bibliometric analysis of the economic impacts of natural disasters on development and growth. In addition, the study identifies less-researched areas in the literature, offering guidance for future research directions.