Mapping the Public Finance Research Landscape Productivity and Impact in Tanzania: A 26- Bibliometric Analysis.

Résumé

Public finance is a critical domain for Tanzania’s social-economic development, particularly in public service delivery and fiscal governance, making it an important area of scholarly inquiry. However, a systematic assessment of its research productivity, intellectual structure, and scholarly impact has remained limited. This study maps the public finance research landscape in Tanzania over a 26-year period (2000-2025), examining growing trends, research productivity, citation impact, and thematic evolution. A total of 272 publications were retrieved from the Dimensions.ai database and analysed using Microsoft Excel and VOS viewer software. The findings reveal 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 attracting 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 notable divergence between productivity and impact is observed: while local institutions, particularly 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, the United States, South Africa, and the United Kingdom are highlighted as dominant contributors in terms of both productivity and citation impact. The most cited studies are largely interdisciplinary, linking public finance to broader development issues such as taxation, governance, health financing, and rural livelihoods. Thematic analysis further highlights a strong focus on 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.