Research Trends in Property Valuation for Expropriation: A Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

Property valuation is central to determining compensation for expropriation, yet concerns persist regarding fairness, adequacy, and reliance on market-based approaches, particularly in contexts with weak land markets and informal tenure systems. This study presents a bibliometric and thematic analysis of Scopus-indexed literature on property valuation for expropriation published between 1979 and 2026. Based on 32 publications, the analysis examines publication trends, influential journals and countries, conceptual structures, thematic evolution, and methodological approaches. The results reveal a rapidly expanding but fragmented field dominated by technical valuation and legal-institutional perspectives, with socio-economic, cultural, and environmental dimensions remaining underexplored. Thematic analysis identifies dominant research orientations, interconnections between established and emerging themes, and persistent gaps between legal frameworks and valuation practice. Methodological review highlights limited integration of qualitative, quantitative, and spatial approaches, as well as scarce longitudinal and comparative studies. The study underscores the need for more integrative, context-sensitive approaches to expropriation valuation that account for socio-economic, cultural, and governance considerations. Although the limited sample constrains statistical robustness and generalizability, the bibliometric approach provides valuable insights into the intellectual structure and emerging trends of the field. This study contributes to organizing the knowledge base on expropriation valuation and informs future research directions in property valuation, policy, and law.