The interrelationship between credit ratings and corporate governance: an in-depth bibliometric study

Purpose This study aims to examine bibliometric trends in the literature on the relationship between credit ratings (CR) and corporate governance, providing insights into publication growth, influential authors and global contributions. Design/methodology/approach Using bibliometric analysis, 300 journal articles from 2003 to 2023 were analyzed from the Scopus database. Coauthorship, coword and citation network analyses identified themes, collaborations and influential contributions to draw valuable conclusions. Findings The analysis highlights the global scope of CGP and CR research, with the USA, United Kingdom and Hong Kong leading contributions. Prominent authors like Poon, Jin and Shin publish in key journals such as the Journal of Corporate Finance and the Journal of Banking and Finance. Strong institutional collaborations, including Zhongnan University of Economics and Law and Massey University, foster interdisciplinary research. The study identifies keywords like credit ratings, corporate governance and credit rating agencies, with foundational works by Ashbaugh-Skaife et al. (2006) and Attig et al. (2013), offering insights into citation patterns and thematic trends. Research limitations/implications This study offers key insights to researchers to explore the relationship between credit ratings and corporate governance while highlighting its impact on firm performance and can guide policymakers in developing strategies and policies to enhance firm value and foster sustainable corporate practices. Originality/value The study is novel, as it investigates the relationship between corporate governance and credit ratings. It has not been explored significantly through a detailed bibliometric analysis, providing a roadmap for future research and policymaking.