Mapping the Global South Circular Economy: A Bibliometric-Narrative Analysis

Although the circular economy (CE) is gaining popularity because of its propensity to optimise the sustainability of resources, few scholars have examined how this field has evolved in the Global South. Using bibliometric-narrative analysis, our paper maps general and thematic trends of CE in the Global South using micro, meso, and macro level frameworks. Based on our dataset, retrieved from the WoS database, we found that the first reference to CE studies in the region emerged in 2007 and was largely focused on waste management and recycling. We identified key themes of CE across different levels of its practices, which interplay either bottom-up or top-down, meaning actions in one area will affect outcomes in others. We also found uneven CE studies in the Global South and highlighted future works to advance the understanding and adoption of the field in the region.