SUSTAINABILITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

A BIBLIOMETRIC STUDY

Abstract

This bibliometric study analyzes the evolution and trends of scientific production on sustainable development and sustainability within the scope of public administration. The research, with a quantitative approach and descriptive-analytical character, used the Scopus database without temporal delimitation, covering the period from 1987 to 2024. A total of 19,630 documents were analyzed, with the support of Microsoft Excel and VOSviewer software for data organization, mapping, and visualization. The results indicate a significant increase in publications from 2014 onwards, peaking in 2023, driven by international events such as Rio+20 and the adoption of the 2030 Agenda. The main identified topics include sustainable governance, public policies, and the integration of environmental, social, and economic dimensions in public administration. China, the United States, and the United Kingdom stood out as the countries with the highest scientific output, while the Chinese Academy of Sciences was the most productive institution. Furthermore, authors such as Sunil Luthra and Elinor Ostrom demonstrated significant influence in the field. The study also revealed the predominance of Social Sciences, Environmental Studies, and Energy as central areas in the debate. It is concluded that sustainability is a consolidated and expanding topic in public administration, requiring further investigations that broaden geographical diversity and explore the impact of emerging technologies.