Mapping The Intersection of Digital Payment Adoption and Behavioral Economics: A Bibliometric Analysis of Emerging Market Research

To identify theoretical gaps, this study analyses the literature on the adoption of digital payments in emerging markets. Using a focused bibliometric mapping approach, we analyzed 30 high-quality Scopus-indexed articles (2018-2025) selected through a rigorous PRISMA 2020 protocol with quality scoring (threshold ≥60/100). This purposive selection enables in-depth mapping of the intersection between digital payment adoption, bounded rationality, and economic barriers, a specific gap that has not been systematically examined previously. The results show that publications increased by 34.59% per year, with international collaboration accounting for 43.33% of the growth. Research was dominated by contributions from India (23%), South Africa (17%), and Saudi Arabia (13%). The thematic structure was organized into three clusters: fintech and financial inclusion, UTAUT2 and mobile payments, and consumer behavior factors. Key findings suggest that research continues to rely on conventional technology adoption models, with limited integration of bounded rationality perspectives and structural economic barriers. Longitudinal studies and temporal dynamics are still scarce. This study recommends a research agenda that integrates behavioural economics with the economic realities of emerging markets to support more effective digital financial inclusion policies.