A bibliometric analysis and scoping study to identify English-language perspectives on slums

TL;DR

This study analyzes global research on slums through bibliometric methods, revealing research focus areas, country participation, and gaps, and suggests future research directions.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive bibliometric overview of English-language research on slums, highlighting country participation, disciplinary focus, and identifying research gaps.

Findings

Research mainly from India, South Africa, Kenya, and Brazil.

Medical and social sciences dominate the discourse.

Few studies address technological aspects of slums.

Abstract

Slums, informal settlements, and deprived areas are urban regions characterized by poverty. According to the United Nations, over one billion people reside in these areas, and this number is projected to increase. Additionally, these settlements are integral components of urban systems. We conducted a bibliometrical analysis and scoping study using the Web of Science Database to explore various perspectives on urban poverty, searching for scientific publications on the topic and providing details on the countries where the studies were conducted. Based on 3947 publications, we identify the extent to which domestic research organizations participate in studying urban poverty and which categories of science they investigate, including life sciences \& biomedicine, social sciences, technology, physical sciences, and arts & humanities. Thereby, we find that research on slums is often limited to specific countries, e.g. India, South Africa, Kenya, or Brazil. This focus is not necessarily correlated with the number of people living in slums. The scientific discourse is up to now predominantly shaped by medical and social sciences with few studies addressing technological questions. Finally, our analysis identifies several possible future directions for research on slums.