Household consumption at the crossroads: A bibliometric decoding of global sustainability trends, research gaps, and collaborative networks (2015-2025)

Table 2 outlines the contributions of leading scholars in household consumption research, measured through four key bibliometric indicators: Articles, Articles Fractionalized, H-index, and Total Citations. The Articles column reflects the total number of publications authored or co-authored by each researcher, with Zhang Y leading at nine articles. Articles Fractionalized denotes the proportional attribution of authorship in multi-authored papers, ensuring equitable credit distribution.

For instance, if an article has four co-authors, each receives 0.25 fractionalised articles. This metric highlights collaborative dynamics, as seen in Li J's high fractionalised count (2.17) relative to their six total articles, suggesting frequent co-authorship. The data reveal distinct research trajectories. Li C, despite fewer articles (7), achieves the highest H-index (5) and substantial citations (123), indicating high-impact, frequently cited contributions. Conversely, Zhang Y's nine articles yield moderate citations (44), suggesting a focus on quantity over sustained influence. Li J's exceptional citation count (187) alongside a mid-range H-index (4) points to a few highly cited works overshadowing broader consistency [20]. Most global cited literature.

From the table above, the article by Dubois G in 2019 entitled "It starts at home? Climate policies targeting household consumption and behavioral decisions are key to low-carbon futures" [21]. Moreover, in 2015, there is also research from Schultz PW, with a discussion about the randomised control field experiment that demonstrates framing real-time electricity consumption feedback through social normative cues (e.g., comparative usage benchmarks) significantly reduces household energy consumption by 7–9% over short- and medium-term periods, underscoring the critical role of behavioural framing in designing effective energy conservation interventions, despite residents' subjective preference for cost-based or straightforward feedback mechanisms [23]. The existence of this information can be used as the basis for subaspects in relevant household consumption topics to be developed by advanced researchers.

Table 4 delineates the performance of three leading publications in household consumption research through bibliometric indicators. Sustainability (Switzerland) ranks highest with 67 publications (NP), an H-Index of 16 (indicating 16 articles cited at least 16 times), and 789 total citations (TC), reflecting consistent productivity and scholarly influence since 2015.

Meanwhile, Energies exhibits rapid growth with the highest M-Index (1.500), calculated as its H-Index (12) divided by publication age (4 years since 2018), signalling higher annual impact despite fewer total publications (NP=40). Energy and Buildings, though indexed since 2015, shows relatively low performance (NP=11, H-Index=9, TC=297), suggesting a niche focus or limited audience. The S-Index (e.g., 23 for Sustainability) likely refers to the g-index, which weights highly cited articles, reinforcing its role as a multidisciplinary hub. The M-Index disparity between Sustainability (1.455) and Energies (1.500) highlights Energies' efficiency in achieving impact within a shorter timeframe, whereas Energy and Buildings (M-Index=0.818) lags due to constrained productivity. These data underscore the dominance of sustainability- and energy-focused journals in household consumption literature, with Sustainability emerging as the central knowledge repository.

The concept of cluster analysis identifies three main themes in household consumption research: socio-demographic factors (family structure, gender roles, and age), spending patterns and consumption behavior, and the critical role of energy particularly electricity highlighting the urgent need to transition to renewable sources. The blue cluster emphasizes the internal dynamics of households shaped by gender roles (male/female) and age (adult), like consumption decision-making based on family structure [25]. The green cluster links demographic factors (like adult age) to shopping habits in the health, education, and lifestyle sectors using an anthropological-sociological approach [26]. The red cluster underscores the urgent need to reduce dependence on fossil energy by adopting eco-friendly technologies, especially amid rapid urbanization [27, 28]. The transition to renewable energy must be urgently supported by in-depth research to address the inequalities in energy access exacerbated by gender and age disparities.

This list of references spans publications from 1936 to 2015, illustrating sustained and multidisciplinary research contributions in related fields. Authors such as Keynes J.M. [29] and Cochran W.G. [30] represent foundational works frequently cited in academic literature, while recent publications (e.g., Cherl J. [31], and Jones R.V. [32]) reflect modern research

developments. Multiple entries from the same author in the same year (e.g., Druckman A., 2008-1 and 2008-2 [33]) indicate sustained productivity or sequential research projects. Entries like Zheng X., Zou L., and T. M. [34] suggest contributions from diverse geographic backgrounds, though inconsistent formatting (e.g., kavozisie ul. 3. 22 bd. 312) may reflect transliteration errors or non-standard references requiring further validation. The temporal distribution highlights a shift from classical economic theory [29] to contemporary topics like energy policy or quantitative methodologies [32]. Ambiguous entries (e.g., Lehzen M. [35]) and capitalization inconsistencies underscore the need for data standardization to ensure citation accuracy.

The dataset highlights global research collaboration patterns, emphasizing the dominance of major research hubs such as the United States (USA), China, and the United Kingdom (UK). The USA emerges as the most active collaborator, with extensive ties to 58 countries. China follows closely, showing particularly strong links with the USA (22 collaborations) and the UK (13), reflecting its growing influence in global research. European nations like Germany and the UK also exhibit broad networks, collaborating with both developed and developing countries as shown in Figure 5.

For instance, Germany's partnerships span from Austria (1) to Tanzania (3), while the UK maintains strong connections with Commonwealth nations (e.g., Australia, India) and African countries (e.g., Kenya, Ghana). Notably, developing economies such as Ghana, Kenya, and Pakistan are recurrent partners, likely due to targeted initiatives in public health, agriculture, or climate research. For example, Ghana collaborates with Denmark, New Zealand, and Rwanda, suggesting niche projects in sustainability or technology [36, 37]. Pivotal studies by Dubois et al. [38] and Schultz et al. [39] emphasize behavioral interventions, with the latter demonstrating a 7–9% reduction in energy use through social normative cues, underscoring the role of socio-demographic factors in sustainable consumption.