All bibliometric data underpinning the citation-based metrics was systematically collected on 2024-11-27. Positioning within the ranking is determined by the sum of D-indexes (Discipline H-index) accrued by all ranking scholars affiliated with each institution whose chief publication area is Economics and Finance. Notably, the D-index incorporates publication and citation data exclusive to the examined discipline, ensuring the relevance and specificity of the metric to Economics and Finance alone.
Scope of Research and Inclusion Criteria
The ranking’s analysis stems from a vast dataset: 279,971 scientist profiles identified from a diverse set of bibliometric data sources were examined. Of these, 12,210 scientists specializing in Economics and Finance were closely analyzed under stringent criteria. Each scientist considered in the ranking was required to have a minimum D-index of 30. Additionally, the majority of their significant publications needed to be explicitly within the domain of Economics and Finance.
Scientist awards and notable achievements in Economics and Finance formed an additional qualitative factor. For top researchers, the D-index threshold was incrementally established (in steps of 10) based on the total number of scholars in each discipline, assuring that the top 1% of leading contributors are comprehensively included. There were supplementary safeguards: the proximity between a scientist’s general H-index and their D-index had to be 30% or less in order to guarantee discipline focus. Recognized awards and achievements in Economics and Finance further influenced the assessment.
Additional Verification Practices
Recognizing the limitations of raw data as an evaluative tool, the Research.com methodology incorporates rigorous manual verification of all scientist profiles. Each profile was cross-correlated against authoritative publications across a broad spectrum of trustworthy sources, reinforcing both the accuracy and fairness of the rankings.
While the volume of high-quality journal and conference proceedings publications does not directly impact a researcher’s standing in the Research.com rankings, it is acknowledged as a secondary, yet important, signal of scholarly contribution. Ultimately, placement in the ranking is determined by each researcher's H-index, as calculated from data aggregated across OpenAlex and CrossRef — two of the most widely recognized bibliometric databases.
For a comprehensive understanding of the methodology, we encourage you to visit our methodology page.
Research.com Agenda Behind the Ranking
The creation of this ranking is grounded in Research.com’s mission to inspire and inform the global research community, business leaders, and policymakers. By providing transparent insight into where the world’s top experts are heading, we aim to facilitate knowledge exchange and support academic excellence. Our rankings offer a reliable reference for discovering preeminent experts within various disciplines, countries, and institutions worldwide.
Key Results of the 4th Edition Malaysia Ranking
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Top 3 Malaysian institutions by number of leading scientists in Economics and Finance:
- Universiti Putra Malaysia – 3 scientists
- Universiti Sains Malaysia – 2 scientists
- University of Malaya – 1 scientist
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Global representation in Economics and Finance research:
Leading scholars included in this global comparison represent: Columbia University, University of Chicago, Harvard University, MIT, Imperial College London, Indiana University, Federal University of Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées, London School of Economics and Political Science, University of California, Berkeley, and The Ohio State University.
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Top individual scholars in Economics and Finance worldwide:
- Professor Joseph E. Stiglitz (Columbia University) – D-index: 191
- James J. Heckman (University of Chicago) – D-index: 181
- Andrei Shleifer (Harvard University) – D-index: 168
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Average D-index values:
- Top 5% universities: 1,987
- All 584 ranked institutions: 234
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Average number of published articles by institution:
- Top 5% of scholars: 6,674 articles
- All 584 universities: 903 articles
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Average citations per researcher:
- Top 1% universities: 3,279,971 citations
- All 584 universities: 279,971 citations
This ranking is underpinned by a meticulous, multi-stage methodology designed to maintain the utmost integrity, discipline specificity, and fairness. It stands as a robust resource for recognizing research excellence in Economics and Finance throughout Malaysia and in the global academic community.
