Mapping the Evolution of Competition Law Scholarship (2010-2020) A Bibliometric Analysis of Publications in Heinonline and Jstor Databases Section Articles

Abstract

This study examines the evolution of competition law scholarship from 2010 to 2020 through bibliometric analysis of publications indexed in HeinOnline and JSTOR databases. The research analyses publication growth and geographical distribution of articles in competition law literature using quantitative research methods. A quantitative research method was adopted. A total of 660 publications were retrieved from the two databases and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The findings reveal a steady increase in competition law over the period, with notable dominance by scholars from developed jurisdiction. This study contributes to a better understanding of the development, focus areas, and gaps in existing scholarship, thereby offering useful insights for researchers, policymakers, librarians and legal practitioners. The population of the study is 92,362 articles from Heinonline and JSTOR databases. A sample size of 660 was derived after sampling the most relevant articles using the purposive sampling technique. Search filters were used to derive at the sample size, filter of year range 2010 to 2020, keyword of competition law, document type (articles) were used to derive the sample size. A checklist was designed by the researcher as an instrument for data collection which covers all variables of the study. The study used descriptive statistics (percentages, tables, charts) for data analysis.The findings of the study reveal a steady growth in competition law publications over the period, with a peak in certain years. The Geographical distribution indicates concentration of publication in USA. The study concludes that competition law has experienced significant development within the period under review, but recommends broader participation, and increased interdisciplinary and open access publishing to enhance future visibility and impact.