The care economy and its impact on socioeconomic development: A systematic and bibliometric review

This study presents a systematic and bibliometric review of research on the care economy and its implications for socioeconomic development between 2015 and 2025. Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, 816 peer-reviewed articles were retrieved from the Scopus database using a structured Boolean search strategy. Methodological quality was assessed through the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP), revealing that 23.4% of studies were of high quality, 66.2% of medium quality, and 10.4% of low quality. Results indicate a steady and statistically significant increase in global research output, with an annual growth rate of 13.6%. Thematic and relational analyses show a consolidation of classic research lines—gender, aging, and health—alongside the emergence of new topics related to innovation, public policy, and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Collaboration network mapping highlights strong connections between North America and Europe and a growing participation of the Global South, particularly Latin America. Overall, findings demonstrate that the care economy has evolved into a global and interdisciplinary field, bridging feminist economics, social policy, and public health. The study underscores the importance of recognizing and valuing care work as a structural component of sustainable development and provides evidence to inform public policies that promote equity, economic inclusion, and social well-being.