Tracing the Knowledge Evolution in Spin-Off Literature Insights from a Bibliometric Study

Abstract

This study examines the intellectual evolution and thematic landscape of corporate spin-off research through a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 260 Scopus-indexed articles published between 1983 and 2025. Using the PRISMA framework and Bibliometrix R- package, the study maps publication trends, prolific authors, influential journals, and keyword networks to reveal how spin-off scholarship has progressed across finance, strategy, and innovation domains. Findings indicate a steady annual growth rate of 4.74% and strong theoretical anchoring in information asymmetry, agency theory, and the resource-based view. The co-word and factorial analyses highlight emerging intersections between strategic restructuring, governance reforms, and innovation management, signaling the field’s transition from financial focus to multidimensional inquiry. While international collaboration remains modest, the research demonstrates increasing thematic diversity and conceptual convergence. This paper contributes to the literature by providing a structured synthesis of corporate spin- off research, identifying gaps in governance, ESG integration, and post-spin-off performance, and outlining future directions for scholars and practitioners in corporate strategy and restructuring.