Bank capital management in emerging and frontier markets: Bibliometric analysis

Bank capital management plays a crucial role in guaranteeing financial stability, particularly in emerging and frontier markets, where economic volatility, regulatory constraints, and financial market underdevelopment present significant challenges. This study aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis to explore investigation trends, emerging themes, and regional disparities in bank capital management. The research methodology includes a systematic review of 1,031 relevant documents from the Scopus database, analyzed using VOSviewer and Biblioshiny to visualize and assess the evolution of academic discourse. The findings reveal that research on bank capital management has grown significantly since the 1980s, with a mean annual growth rate of 26.2%, particularly following financial crises. Most publications originate from the USA, UK, India, China, and Australia, with key contributions from institutions like the IMF and the World Bank. Thematic analysis shows a shift from broad economic and financial studies towards specialized topics like digital banking, fintech, and capital structure adjustments. Co-authorship and citation analysis highlight strong academic collaboration, particularly within Southeast Asia and Anglo-American networks. Despite the growth in literature, significant research gaps persist. There is a lack of comprehensive studies on African and Latin American banking systems, with a predominant focus on Asian emerging markets. While risk management and regulatory compliance remain central themes, empirical research on capital structure adjustment, particularly the speed at which banks adapt to Basel III requirements, remains fragmented. Additionally, climate-related financial risks and sustainable finance are underexplored areas despite their growing importance in global banking stability.