Publication Details
Abstract
In recent years, micro-entrepreneurship has emerged as a transformative pathway for empowering women, especially in developing nations where socio-economic and institutional barriers limit their access to formal employment and financial services. Through the mechanism of Self-Help Groups (SHGs), microfinance institutions, and policy initiatives such as MUDRA, Yojana and Start-up India, women are increasingly engaging in income-generating activities that promote financial autonomy, decision-making power, and social mobility. Despite the growing scholarly interest in this domain, a comprehensive synthesis of global research trends, influential contributors, and thematic structures remains limited. This study employs bibliometric analysis using data extracted from the Scopus database (1989–2025) to map the intellectual landscape of research linking micro-entrepreneurship and women empowerment. Utilizing tools such as VOSviewer, the study analyzes co-authorship networks, keyword co-occurrences, and bibliographic coupling to uncover patterns in collaboration, conceptual focus, and journal prominence. The findings highlight significant international collaboration, dominant themes in economic, social, and health-related empowerment, and evolving intersections with digital innovation and gender justice. This study not only identifies current research hotspots but also suggests underexplored areas for future inquiry, thereby contributing to academic discourse and evidence-based policy formulation for inclusive development.