Exploring Conflicts and Governance: A Bibliometric Analysis of Related Party Transactions

Abstract

Related party transactions (RPTRs) have garnered global attention due to their potential to compromise financial reporting quality (FRQ) through opportunistic behaviour. The ongoing argument on whether RPTRs are value-adding or harmful highlights the need for deeper exploration. This study fills this gap by engaging a bibliometric analysis of 490 publications on RPTRs and FRQ from 1989 to 2024, sourced from Scopus. The analysis identifies key trends, influential authors, and dominant themes such as corporate governance, tunneling, propping earnings management, and agency theory. Notably, scholarly interest surged after 2017, with significant contributions from China, the United States, and Australia. Despite progress, gaps persist in understanding the effectiveness of governance mechanisms in mitigating RPTRs risks. Limitations include reliance on Scopus and keyword-based searches, which may exclude relevant works. This study offers a quantitative foundation for future research and provides actionable insights for policymakers and corporate stakeholders to enhance transparency and promote the practices of high-quality financial reporting.