On January 12, 2026, bibliometric data were meticulously harvested to underpin citation-based metrics used within the ranking. The central metric determining a scientist’s position in the ranking is the D-index (Discipline H-index), which uniquely quantifies scholarly impact by considering only those publications and associated citations specifically within the scientist’s examined discipline—in this case, Economics and Finance. This focused approach ensures discipline-relevant evaluation, eliminating distortion from unrelated research outputs.
Scope of Research and Ranking Criteria
The ranking analysis encompassed a vast pool of 279,971 scientist profiles extracted and consolidated from diverse bibliometric repositories covering all scientific disciplines. Within this broad cohort, 47 scientists actively engaged in research within Economics and Finance were singled out for detailed consideration.
To qualify for inclusion in this ranking, a candidate must have achieved a minimum D-index of 30, reflecting a threshold indicative of significant scholarly influence within the discipline. Additionally, a majority of each scientist’s key publications—categorized into tiered journals and conferences—must lie substantively within the scope of Economics and Finance. The evaluation process also integrates recognition of prominent awards and professional achievements relevant to the field.
The threshold for the D-index is dynamically calibrated in increments of 10, scaled in accordance with the estimated total number of active scholars in each discipline. This approach not only maintains rigor but also consistently incorporates the top 1% of leading experts across the fields. Furthermore, to ensure alignment between a researcher’s overall impact and discipline-specific influence, the methodology requires a proximity of no more than 30% between the general H-index and their D-index.
Verification and Methodological Rigor
Recognizing the inherent limitations of raw bibliometric data as a standalone evaluative tool, the research team has implemented stringent additional verification protocols. Each scientist profile included in the ranking underwent manual validation, including cross-correlation against a broad spectrum of verified publications from reputable and trustworthy sources.
Although secondary to the D-index metric used for ranking, the number of peer-reviewed articles published in prominent journals and conference proceedings is considered a valuable indicator complementing the quantitative analysis, providing insights into the researcher’s substantive contributions within their area of expertise.
The final position of each scientist is established exclusively through their Discipline H-index as computed from consolidated information from OpenAlex and CrossRef—widely regarded as the most prominent, comprehensive, and accessible bibliometric databases within the global research community. For an in-depth understanding of the methodology and data sources, interested readers are encouraged to consult our methodology page.
Research.com’s Mission Behind the Ranking
Research.com’s overarching mission in creating this ranking is to inspire and empower researchers, academic institutions, corporations, and policymakers worldwide to gain clear visibility into where and how leading experts in Economics and Finance are advancing their fields. By providing a trusted framework to identify top-tier scholars across countries and research institutions, we facilitate informed decisions, strategic collaborations, and recognition of excellence within the scientific ecosystem.
Through rigorous data collection, careful verification, and transparent methodology, this ranking serves not only as a benchmark of scholarly achievement but also as a dynamic tool to promote knowledge exchange and elevate the global research enterprise.
