The citation-based metrics incorporated into the ranking were compiled on January 12, 2026. A scientist's position within the ranking is determined by their D-index (Discipline H-index), a refined metric that exclusively considers publications and citation counts within the examined discipline — in this case, Economics and Finance. This discipline-specific approach enhances the precision and relevance of the ranking by focusing on scholarly contributions directly linked to the field.
Scope of Research and Qualification Criteria
The ranking draws from an extensive pool of 279,971 scientist profiles identified through the assessment of bibliometric data sources spanning all academic disciplines. Specifically, 1 scientist from the field of Economics and Finance in Croatia was examined in detail for this edition.
To qualify for inclusion in the ranking, researchers were required to meet the following criteria:
- A minimum D-index of 30 within the discipline of Economics and Finance.
- The majority of their tier publications must be published within the field of Economics and Finance, ensuring domain specificity.
- Recognition of awards and significant achievements pertinent to Economics and Finance was also considered as a supplementary factor to highlight distinguished contributions in the field.
The threshold for a qualifying D-index is calibrated in consistent increments of 10, adjusted according to the estimated total number of scholars for each discipline. This calibration ensures that the top 1% of leading scholars are captured in the ranking. Furthermore, to maintain relevance and discipline focus, the proximity between a scientist's general H-index and their D-index must not exceed 30%, thereby confirming that a researcher's impact is substantially aligned with the examined field.
Additional Verification Practices
Recognizing that raw bibliometric data alone may not provide a comprehensive or absolute measure of a scientist’s research output and impact, the Research.com team applied rigorous manual verification processes. Each scientist’s profile was cross-correlated and exhaustively checked against publications recorded in a broad array of trustworthy and authoritative sources. This meticulous verification enhances the accuracy and reliability of the ranking outcomes.
While the number of publications in prestigious journals and conference proceedings does not directly influence a researcher’s rank in the list, it is acknowledged as a meaningful secondary indicator of their overall contribution to the Economics and Finance community.
The final ranking positions are determined by researchers’ D-index scores as computed from data harvested primarily from OpenAlex and CrossRef, which remain the foremost databases in terms of transparency, scope, and accessibility in the bibliometric landscape.
For detailed information about the methodology, readers are encouraged to visit our methodology page.
Research.com’s Mission and Agenda
At Research.com, we are committed to fostering transparency and recognition within the global scientific ecosystem. Our mission with these rankings is to motivate researchers, corporations, and policymakers worldwide to monitor the trajectory of leading experts and to provide the broader academic community with accessible, credible information about who the foremost specialists are in specific fields — whether by country, discipline, or institution.
By delivering meticulously curated and verified rankings, we aim to support informed decision-making in research funding, collaboration, and strategic development at all levels, reinforcing excellence and innovation across the sciences.
