Mapping public finance research productivity and scholarly impact in Tanzania: A 26-year bibliometric analysis

Adam Shemahonge; Geofrey Njovangwa

doi:10.51867/AQSSR.3.4.24

Authors

Adam Shemahonge Tanzania Forestry Research Institute (TAFORI), Tanzania Author
Geofrey Njovangwa Tanzania Institute of Accountancy (TIA), Tanzania Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9788-6706

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51867/AQSSR.3.4.24

Keywords:

Bibliometrics Analysis, Public Finance, Research Productivity, Tanzania

Abstract

Public finance is a critical domain for Tanzania’s social-economic development, especially in public service delivery, making it an important area of scholarly inquiry. However, a systematic evaluation of its research productivity, intellectual structure and scholarly impact has been limited. This study maps the public finance research productivity and scholarly impact in Tanzania over a 26-years (2000-2025), focusing on publication trends, research productivity, citation impact and thematic evolution. The study was guided by Competitive Advantage Theory. A total of 272 publications were retrieved from the Dimensions.ai database and analysed using Microsoft Excel and VOS viewer software. The findings show a steady growth in publications, with a pronounced acceleration after 2016 and peak output in recent years. Journal articles dominate scholarly communication. Citation analysis shows a highly skewed distribution, with internationally affiliated researchers getting highly citation impacts than Tanzanian researchers. However, productivity patterns reveal that Tanzanian researchers contribute a larger share of the overall research output and account for many of the most prolific authors. At the institutional level, a divergence between productivity and impact is observed: where as local institutions, especially Mzumbe University and the University of Dar es salaam, lead in productivity, institutions such as Ifakara Health Institute demonstrate stronger citation impact, reflecting the role of specialization and international collaboration. At the country level, Tanzania, United States, South Africa and the United Kingdom are highlighted as most dominant contributors in terms of productivity and citation impact. Highly cited studies are largely interdisciplinary, linking public finance to broader development issues such as taxation, governance, health financing, and rural livelihoods. Thematic analysis highlighted macroeconomic issues, including economic growth, debt and budget deficits, indicating a problem-oriented research agenda. Overall, the findings reveal a maturing yet uneven research system characterized by a persistent productivity-impact gap. The study underscores the need for strengthening international collaboration, enhancing research visibility and promoting policy-relevant and high-impact scholarship to improve both citation performance and practical policy influence in Tanzania.

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