Bibliometric analysis on determinants of money laundering

Abstract Purpose: This research paper aims to thoroughly examine the topic of money laundering and the scholarly study that has been performed in this field. Methodology: For this purpose, a bibliometric analysis of the “money laundering” concept is conduced. The final number of articles on the topic of money laundering, financial crime, and financial institutions that remain after the manual refinement is 298. This study aims to research 298 scholarly publications sourced through the Web of Science database that have been performed Findings:The results delve into a graphical depiction of the co-citation and co-occurrence networks, authors, keywords, and sources associated with the publication which aims to analyze the avenues and patterns of money laundering that have been studied and to identify the future trends and challenges. Research limitations: Although extensive bibliometric methodologies were employed, this study has some limitations. One constraint is that only open-access papers and indexed in the Web of Science database were used, under the justification and consideration that the Web of Science database includes very high-quality publications and is also a credible source for indexing highly ranked journals. Practical implications: This paper's contribution is the use of bibliometric analysis to uncover significant subjects of money laundering and mainstream (Trade-based money laundering, Organized / Financial crime, and Technology). It is necessary to continue investigating these mainstream topics to meet the expectations of global anti-money laundering regulations that are under growing pressure to enhance regulations, while achieving sound financial standards. Social implications: This study also initiates a new discourse among researchers, particularly about the impact of cutting-edge technology of blockchain. These emerging innovative technologies and the advent of cryptocurrency have captured the attention of researchers in recent years. These topics are expected to continue to garner interest, particularly regarding the implementation of innovative technologies to improve digitization in the financial industry. Originality/value: This study concludes with the analysis of major focused areas researched on money laundering and areas that can be further researched to counter money laundering and eliminate the abuse of financial systems. Jel Codes: G21, G28, G30