New insights into the frontiers and trends of sustainable development in the global digital economy: a bibliometric analysis

Abstract The digital economy is a crucial driver of global economic progression, yet its evolving research landscape and future directions remain to be systematically mapped. This study employs a bibliometric analysis of scholarly articles to delineate the evolution and forecast prospective directions of sustainable development research in the global digital economy. Our findings reveal that the research field has undergone three distinct phases: initial stability, gradual acceleration, and a recent surge, peaking over the last two years. Geographically, China, the United States, and the United Kingdom lead in research activities, with a strong collaborative relationship observed between China and the US. Analysis of research themes highlights “digital economy”, “digital transformation,” and “sustainable development” as core areas, with a significant and emerging cluster dedicated to environmental governance, particularly focusing on carbon emissions and energy consumption. This study identifies a five-phase evolutionary trajectory of digital economy research, providing a clear roadmap for future scholarship. We predict that the next frontier will focus on the integration of the digital economy with green initiatives, innovation, and the development of robust digital economy ecosystems. This research offers valuable insights for policymakers and researchers seeking to align digital economic growth with global sustainability goals.