DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: ARE THEY RESHAPING LOCAL GOVERNANCE? A SCOPUS AND WOS BIBLIOMETRIC EXPLORATION

Authors

  • Hien Truong Thi Thu University of Economics, the University of Danang
  • Hien Truong Thi Thu University of Economics, the University of Danang
  • Tram Le Ngoc Phuong University of Economics, the University of Danang
  • Tram Le Ngoc Phuong University of Economics, the University of Danang
  • Vinh Nguyen Van The Central College of Transport V, Ministry of Construction
  • Le Bao University of Economics, the University of Danang
  • Hoang Van Hai University of Economics, the University of Danang

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18623/rvd.v23.5010

Keywords:

Local Governance (LG), Digital Transformation (DT), Sustainable Development (SD), Bibliometrics, Scopus, Web of Science (WoS)

Abstract

Purpose. This study provides a comprehensive synthesis of global research on local governance in the context of digital transformation and sustainable development, thereby identifying emerging research trends and themes. Methods. The data utilized for this analysis comprises a pooled dataset from two primary databases: Scopus and Web of Science, with analysis conducted using RStudio and Biblioshiny. A comprehensive analysis of all 48 peer-reviewed documents reveals that global research on local governance in the context of digital transformation and sustainable development began relatively late, with the first publications emerging in 2021. Findings. The findings highlight several trend topics within this subject area, including: "digital transformation", "local governance", "sustainability", "smart city", and "sustainable development". Frequently used keywords encompass: “sustainability”, “digital transformation”, “smart city”, ‘cities”, “digitalization”, “e-governance”, “smartness”, “e-government”, “green growth”, “industrial structure”, “innovation”, “local authorities”, and “public administration”. Value. This study represents the first systematic effort to evaluate global research on local governance in the context of digital transformation and sustainable development, employing a bibliometric approach.

References

Aria, M., & Cuccurullo, C. (2017). Bibliometrix: An R-tool for comprehensive science mapping analysis. Journal of Informetrics, 11(4), 959–975. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joi.2017.08.007

Arruda Filho et al. (2024). A Systematic Review of the Literature on Climate Justice: A Comparison Between the Global North and South. Sustainability (Switzerland). doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/su16229888

Baas, J. et al. (2020). Scopus as a curated, high-quality bibliometric data source for academic research in quantitative science studies. Quantitative Science Studies, 377–386. doi:https://doi.org/10.1162/qss_a_00019

Behzad, M. et al. (2025). A review of public opposition to the establishment of construction and demolition waste recovery facilities. Smart and Sustainable Built Environment. doi:https://doi.org/10.1108/SASBE-04-2024-0110

Burnham, J. F. (2006). Scopus database: A review. Biomedical Digital Libraries. 1–8. doi:https://doi.org/10.1186/1742-5581-3-1

Caroline Birkle, David A. Pendlebury, Joshua Schnell, Jonathan Adams. (2020). Web of Science as a data source for research on scientific and scholarly activity. Quantitative Science Studies, 363–376. doi:doi: https://doi.org/10.1162/qss_a_00018

Cheshmehzangi, A. (2021). Urban Health, Sustainability, and Peace in the Day the World Stopped. Springer. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-4888-5

Chi Jinglin et al. (2024). Connecting Pixels to Trust: A Systematic Review of the Relationship Between Government Social Media Usage and Citizens' Trust in Government. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.11114/smc.v12i3.6797

Diwan, H., Amarayil Sreeraman, B. (2024). From financial reporting to ESG reporting: a bibliometric analysis of the evolution in corporate sustainability disclosures. Environment Development Sustainabl, 26, 13769–13805. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-023-03249-2

Faguet, J. P. (2014). Decentralization and governance. World Development, 53, 2-13. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2013.01.002

Hallinger & Nguyen. (2020). Mapping the landscape and structure of research on education for sustainable development: A bibliometric review. Sustainability (Switzerland), 12(5), 1–16. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/su12051947

Hallinger, P. et al. (2019). A bibliometric review of research on higher education for sustainable development, 1998-2018. Sustainability (Switzerland), 11(8). doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/su11082401

Hossain, A. N. (2021). Local Government Response to COVID-19: Revitalizing Local Democracy in Bangladesh. International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning, 16, 701-712. doi:10.18280/ijsdp.160410

Jaja. (2024). Research Trends on Students' Writing Skills: A Bibliometric Analysis Using Scopus Database. Iournal of Languague and Education, 10(3). doi:https://doi.org/10.17323/jle.2024.18806

Kundy, V.P. et al. (2024). The knowledge base of financial technology: a bibliometric analysis review. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s43546-024-00670-1

Kurniawan T. et al. (2022). nlocking digital technologies for waste recycling in Industry 4.0 era: A transformation towards a digitalization-based circular economy in Indonesia. Journal of Cleaner Production, 357(2). doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.131911

Kwilinski et al. (2023). Environmental sustainability within attaining sustainable development goals: The role of digitalization and the transport sector. Sustainability, 15(14). doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/su151411282

Marcellou, Effimia G. et al. (2025). Effect of pelvic floor muscle training on urinary incontinence symptoms in postmenopausal women: A systematic review and meta-analysis . European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 304, 134 – 140. doi:DOI10.1016/j.ejogrb.2024.11.040

Megawati, S. et al. (2025). Synergistic modelling of green and digital local government on sustainable development performance: a case study of booming city. Journal of Modelling in Management. doi:https://doi.org/10.1108/JM2-10-2024-0343

Moher, D. et al. (2009). Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: The PRISMA statement. PLoS Medicine, 6(7). doi:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000097

Mongeon, P., & Paul-Hus, A. . (2016). The journal coverage of Web of Science and Scopus: A comparative analysis. Scientometrics, 106(1) , 213-228. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-015-1765-5

OECD. (2020). Digital Government Index: 2019 results. . OECD Public Governance Policy Papers. doi:https://doi.org/10.1787/4de9f5bb-en

Ojeda-Gómez et al. (2025). Research trends in periodontal disease in people with HIV infection: A bibliometric analysis; [Tendencias de investigación en enfermedad periodontal en personas con infección por VIH: Un análisis bibliométrico]. Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmacognosy Research, 13 (1), 27-45. doi:https://doi.org/10.56499/jppres24.1941_13.1.27

Palos-Sánchez et al. (2023). Digital Transformation and Local Government Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Assessment of Its Impact on the Sustainable Development Goals. SAGE Open, 13(2). doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440231167343

Palumbo et al. (2021). Organizing a sustainable smart urban ecosystem: Perspectives and insights from a bibliometric analysis and literature review. Journal of Cleaner Production. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.126622

Queiroz, R. (2022). How to merge Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) databases to use on Bibliometrix or Mendeley. From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chaDruiPs4U

Rodrigues M.; Franco M. (2021). Digital entrepreneurship in local government: Case study in Municipality of Fundão, Portugal. Sustainable Cities and Society. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2021.103115.

Rodrigues, M., & Franco, M. . (2021). Digital entrepreneurship in local government: Case study in Municipality of Fundão, Portugal . Sustainable Cities and Society, 73. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2021.103115

Timber Haaker et al. (2021). Business model innovation through the application of the Internet-of-Things: A comparative analysis. Journal of Business Research, 126, 126-136. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.12.034

Tomas Pečiulis et al. (2024). Forecasting of cryptocurrencies: Mapping trends, influential sources, and research themes. Journal of Forecasting, 43(6), 1880-1901. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/for.3114

Ulker et al. (2023). Bibliometric analysis of bibliometric studies in the field of tourism and hospitality. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights, 6(2), 797–818. doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/JHTI-10-2021-0291

United Nations. (2015). Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. From https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda

Vivó P. et al. (2024). GPBP or CERT: The Roles in Autoimmunity, Cancer or Neurodegenerative Disease—A Systematic Review. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252313179

Vuk Vukovic et al. (2023). Blockchain in supply chain management in automotive industry: Systematic literature review. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.5937/StraMan2300044V

W. N. Venables, D. M. Smith, and the R Core Team. (2025). An Introduction to R. From https://cran.r-project.org/doc/manuals/r-release/R-intro.pdf

Wandi et al. (2024). Trends of E-Learning in Science Education: A Bibliometrics Analysis of the Recent Two Decades of Research. doi:https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0234684

Wang et al. (2024). How does ICT development in resource-exhausted cities promote the urban green transformation efficiency? Evidence from China. Sustainable Cities and Society. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2024.105835

World Bank. (2006). Local Governance In Developing Countries. World Bank. From https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268523702_Local_Governance_In_Developing_Countries

Zupic, I., & Čater, T. (2015). Bibliometric Methods in Management and Organization. Organizational Research Methods. Journal of Informetrics, 18(3), 429–472. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/1094428114562629

Downloads

Published

2026-03-10

How to Cite

Thu, H. T. T., Thu, H. T. T., Phuong, T. L. N., Phuong, T. L. N., Van, V. N., Bao, L., & Hai, H. V. (2026). DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: ARE THEY RESHAPING LOCAL GOVERNANCE? A SCOPUS AND WOS BIBLIOMETRIC EXPLORATION. Veredas Do Direito, 23, e235010. https://doi.org/10.18623/rvd.v23.5010