Mapping Four Decades of Foreign Direct Investment Research in Malaysia: A Bibliometric Analysis

  • Hafizah Hammad Ahmad Khan Faculty of Business and Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Kampus Sungai Petani, Merbok, Kedah, Malaysia
  • Rosmaiza Abdul Ghani Faculty of Business and Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Kampus Alor Gajah, Melaka, Malaysia
  • Muhammad Hanif Othman Faculty of Business and Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Kampus Sungai Petani, Merbok, Kedah, Malaysia
  • Handri Handri Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Islam Bandung, Indonesia
  • Azib Azib Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Islam Bandung, Indonesia
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22610/imbr.v17i2(J).4429
Keywords: Foreign direct investment, Malaysia, Bibliometric analysis, Systematic review, Harzing's Publish or Perish, VOSviewer

Abstract

This bibliometric analysis explored the research landscape of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Malaysia from 1984 to 2024. By systematically reviewing 480 scholarly articles, this study identified the evolution of research themes, key contributors, and the significant impact of seminal works in the field. The findings highlight the strong focus on the economic impact of FDI, its role in environmental sustainability, and the influence of global economic changes on FDI flows into Malaysia. The analysis further elucidates the pivotal role of Malaysian institutions and scholars in shaping the FDI discourse. Emerging research trends indicate a growing interest in the interplay between FDI and Malaysia’s digital economy, labor markets, and regional economic integration within ASEAN. This study maps the historical and current academic focus on FDI in Malaysia. It outlines future research directions that could assist policymakers and practitioners in leveraging FDI for sustainable and inclusive economic development.

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Published
2025-06-21
How to Cite
Khan, H. H. A., Abdul Ghani, R., Othman, M. H., Handri, H., & Azib, A. (2025). Mapping Four Decades of Foreign Direct Investment Research in Malaysia: A Bibliometric Analysis. Information Management and Business Review, 17(2(I), 79-91. https://doi.org/10.22610/imbr.v17i2(J).4429
Issue
Vol 17 No 2(I) (2025)
Section
Research Paper

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