Bibliometric Insights and Systematic Review of Research Literature: The Role of Financial Literacy in Growth of SMEs

In recent years, there has been substantial research dedicated to financial literacy towards small & medium sized enterprises.This body of work examines how financial knowledge influences the management and success of these businesses.Designated research studies from 2017 to 2024 were analyzed using the Web of Science database.Key significant trends and research developments were identified through the use of VOS viewer software for co-occurrence and co-citation analysis.To establish current trends & prospective future directions, the results of the bibliometric analysis were incorporated into a systematic review.Major research efforts focused on managers' intangible skills and their impact on financial literacy within SME sustainability.The journal Sustainability emerged as most significant source, with 163 citations, and Ying et al. were identified as the most significant authors.Cooccurrence analysis highlighted three primary research disciplines: management and performance, innovation and sustainability, and finance and growth.Additionally, four topics were identified through co-citation analysis: financial management, sustainability and innovation, financial success and resource acquisition, and financial literacy and performance.Future research should address SME risk management, regulatory issues, the significance of fintech in decisions of financing, innovative funding methods, the effect of social & human capital on finance, & women's financial literacy in SMEs.Thus, the study provides comprehensive insights in emerging discipline of financial literacy within SMEs.