Exploring Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) Applications in Banking: A Bibliometric Study

Abstract

Background: A bibliometric analysis was conducted to investigate the prevalence of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) in academic studies, revealing it to be one of the most widely used methods in multi-criteria decision-making. The AHP structures complex decisions in a hierarchy, facilitating the evaluation of multiple criteria and alternatives. This approach is particularly valuable in situations where quantitative methods are not always applicable or sufficient. Objectives: The main aim of this study is to assess the extent of research development on this topic at global and national levels using various performance indicators. Methods/Approach: The WoS database was used to obtain the required data. The search revealed 286 research publications on "AHP and banking", of which 79 were analysed to illustrate the potential applications of AHP and hybrid methods. Results: The analysis provided a qualitative assessment of bibliometric indicators, highlighting existing trends and future research directions for the (r)evolution of academic progress. According to the selected fields of analysis, a gradual increase in the number of citations, published papers, and research on vertical and horizontal topics within the banking sector was observed. Conclusions: The main contribution of this paper is the identification of new research foci and the filling of unresolved gaps in the academic literature. The evidence suggests that the effectiveness of the AHP method has stimulated the development of related research. Future papers should further elaborate on the proposed research areas in collaboration with other disciplines to create a robust research programme and foster innovations.