The Philippines in ASEAN financial literacy research: insights from a bibliometric review

Abstract

This bibliometric review explores the Philippine’s contribution in ASEAN financial literacy research. This paper depicts research trends, key contributions, and emerging themes to position the country within the regional and global scenario. This paper applied Biblioshiny, VOSviewer, and Microsoft Excel to analyze co-authorship, citations, and thematic trends from 522 Scopus-indexed publications (2009–2025) screened using PRISMA guidelines. Findings show that Indonesia and Malaysia lead the way in financial literacy research, with the Philippines still underrepresented but having shown robust international collaborations. Most research in the Philippines has been on education and financial behavior, with minimal engagement on emerging topics such as digital financial literacy and SME financial management. Philippine researchers must further expand their scope by engaging with top scholars, publishing their work in high-impact journals, and, generally, enhancing their contribution. With this, policymakers and educators can infer ideas to inform and develop strategic financial literacy plans to overcome these gaps regarding digital finance, financial resilience, and SME management, thereby making for better avenues to financial inclusion and economic empowerment.