Bibliometric Insights into Environmental Performance Index (EPI) Research: A Comprehensive Analysis

Abstract: This study conducts a structured bibliometric analysis of Environmental Performance Index (EPI) literature to map its scientific development, thematic evolution, and policy relevance. A total of 391 peer-reviewed journal articles from the Scopus database (1994–2024) were analyzed using Biblioshiny (R package) and VOSviewer to perform co-authorship, co-citation, and keyword co-occurrence analyses. The findings reveal a sharp increase in EPI research after 2010, with dominant contributions from China, the United States, and India. Core journals include Sustainability, Ecological Indicators, and Journal of Cleaner Production. Thematic clusters indicate a growing integration of environmental indicators with socio-economic policy frameworks, carbon emissions evaluation, and sustainable competitiveness. This study identifies key intellectual contributors, methodological preferences, and emerging research fronts, offering a roadmap for future interdisciplinary inquiry. The results underscore the strategic role of EPI in shaping evidence-based environmental policy and performance assessment across nations.

Keywords: Environmental Performance Index, Bibliometric Mapping, Policy Evaluation, Scopus, Network Analysis, Sustainability Indicators