Smart Cities and their development: economic dynamics, global trends, and Latin American perspectives from a bibliometric analysis

Introduction: Smart Cities (SC) are located at the intersection of the innovation economy and the urban economy, where digitalization and data analysis are transforming productivity and public management models. This phenomenon redefines governance dynamics and demands new strategies for territorial development. Objective: The objective of this study is to analyze the main research trends on SC from an economy-urban perspective, with a special emphasis on Latin America. Methodology: A mixed approach was used, combining bibliometric analysis of publications indexed in Scopus and critical review of more than 60 recent articles to characterize thematic and productive evolution. Results: The results show an annual growth of 37.7% in academic production between 2018 and 2024, with China and India standing out. Research areas include the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, sustainability, and urban planning. In Latin America, scientific participation is 5% with an emphasis on governance, inclusion, and digital and institutional gaps. Discussion: Studies indicate that the SC paradigm is growing rapidly, although still in the process of consolidation, particularly in regions with unequal capacities. Conclusions: Strengthening CS in Latin America requires improving ICT infrastructure, promoting collaborative governance, and developing indicators focused on people and territory.