Analysis of research trends on regional development planning in poverty alleviation: A bibliometric review

Poverty is a complex, multidimensional, and deeply rooted structural issue that necessitates a more contextual, integrative, and responsive approach in regional development planning, particularly when addressing local socioeconomic. As a persistent global challenge, poverty cannot be effectively addressed through uniform, top-down development models. Instead, it requires spatially nuanced strategies that are attuned to the specific characteristics of rural and urban areas. This study aims to examine the evolving trends and thematic patterns in research on regional development planning as it relates to poverty alleviation, utilizing a bibliometric analysis to uncover knowledge structures and scholarly contributions. A total of 111 articles published between 2003 and 2025 were retrieved from the Scopus database and analyzed using VOSviewer and Biblioshiny to produce visual maps of keyword co-occurrences, authorship patterns, and thematic evolution. The findings indicate that area-based approaches emphasizing community participation, optimization of local potential, and cross-sector collaboration are highly effective in adaptively addressing the complexity of poverty. These approaches offer flexibility and adaptability in addressing diverse local needs. Over the past two decades, Environmental Science has emerged as the most significant disciplinary contributor, whereas disciplines such as economics, management, and decision sciences remains relatively limited. Furthermore, the research concentration among specific authors and institutions suggests the need for expanding interdisciplinary collaboration networks. The study concludes by recommending the promotion of integrative, interdisciplinary research that synthesizes energy policy, environmental sustainability, economic and political dimensions, and local sociocultural values as a foundation for inclusive and sustainable poverty alleviation strategies in both rural and urban contexts.