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Evaluation of One Belt One Road publications: a bibliometric and literature review analysis

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Abstract

The aim of the “One Belt and One Road” (OBOR) project proposed by China is to encourage extension of global value chains, facilitate regional integration and increase efficient resource allocation. In recent times, scientific literature has examined the investment decisions of the OBOR investment and how it will affect the governmental policies, environmental initiatives, and bilateral flow of economic resources. Current study, based on Web of Science database, uses bibliometric methodology to map the research trends in OBOR publications. We contribute in the economic literature in the associated fields of OBOR publications in the following ways: (1) identify the most influential researchers, articles, and academic institutions, (2) mapping the interdisciplinary character of OBOR investments and its bibliometric similarity to adjacent fields, (3) visualize nature and trends of the research field, and (4) synthesizing future research areas. Although OBOR initiative has received considerable traction, but to this date, there is no bibliometric study on this topic. The findings of current study will help policymakers and academics to navigate the OBOR literature, provide a systematic basis for developing the field, and suggest promising future research avenues.

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Funding

The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support from Mobile Health Ministry of Education-China Mobile Joint Laboratory Grant (2020MHL02005) and Scientific Research General Project of Education Department of Hunan Province (17C0694).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Business School, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People’s Republic of China

    Muhammad Farhan Bashir & Benjiang MA

  2. School of Economics, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410083, China

    Yifang Qin

  3. School of Economics, Nankai University, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China

    Muhammad Adnan Bashir

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  1. Muhammad Farhan Bashir
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  2. Benjiang MA
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Muhammad Farhan Bashir writing original draft, revision, software

Benjiang MA Methodology

Yifang Qin Project supervision

Muhammad Adnan Bashir Methodology, resources

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Correspondence to Yifang Qin.

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Bashir, M.F., MA, B., Qin, Y. et al. Evaluation of One Belt One Road publications: a bibliometric and literature review analysis. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 37016–37030 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-14621-y

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