Market system development (MSD) for poverty alleviation strategies and societal implications: a conceptual and bibliometric analyses

Abstract

Market System Development (MSD) is an approach to economic development and poverty alleviation, focusing on making market systems more inclusive and efficient for marginalised populations. Through a conceptual and bibliometric analysis, this review explores various facets of MSD, such as integrating push and pull strategies, leveraging technology for market information dissemination, and assessing the impacts of microfinance and private sector development on market inclusivity. Using bibliometric analysis with the Biblioshiny Package for RStudio, we examined 46 articles sourced from Scopus. Our findings highlight the importance of context-specific interventions and a deep understanding of local market dynamics. Notable examples include strategies for enhancing women's economic empowerment and the application of the Progress out of Poverty Index (PPI) for precise targeting in poverty alleviation programs. The roles of mobile enterprises and periodic markets in rural Kenya and the potential of ICT in improving agricultural market information access illustrate the diverse applications of MSD. This review underscores the need for resilient and equitable market systems to ensure inclusive economic growth, providing valuable insights for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers dedicated to sustainable and secure regional development that uses market conditions through efficient continuous market development. Keywords: market system development; poverty alleviation; regional development Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Guerreschi, A., Coletti, G., Benassai, E. 2025. Market system development (MSD) for poverty alleviation strategies and societal implications: a conceptual and bibliometric analyses. Insights into Regional Development, 7(2), 124-140.