Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-23-2025
Journal / Book Title
International Journal of Financial Studies
Abstract
This study provides a comprehensive assessment and synthesis of the literature on short-selling. It performs a lexicometric analysis, providing a quantitative review of 1093 peer-reviewed journal articles to identify and illustrate the main themes in short-selling research. Almost half the published literature on short-selling is thematically clustered around portfolio management techniques. Other key themes involve short-selling as it relates to risk management, strategic management, and market irregularities. Descending hierarchical classification examines the overall structure of the textual corpus of the short-selling literature and the relationships between its key terms. Similarity analysis reveals that the short-selling literature is highly concentrated, with most conceptual groups closely aligned and fitting into overlapping or conceptually similar areas. Some notable groups highlight prior short-selling studies of market dynamics, behavioral factors, technological advancements, and regulatory frameworks, which can serve as a foundation for market regulators to make more informed decisions that enhance overall market stability. Additionally, this study proposes a conceptual framework in which short-selling can be either a driver or an outcome by integrating the literature on its antecedents, consequences, explanatory variables, and boundary conditions. Finally, it suggests directions for future research.
DOI
10.3390/ijfs13030135
MSU Digital Commons Citation
Sharma, Nitika; Manohar, Sridhar; Huhmann, Bruce A.; and Limbu, Yam B., "Mapping the Literature on Short-Selling in Financial Markets: A Lexicometric Analysis" (2025). Department of Marketing Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works. 259.
https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/marketing-facpubs/259
Rights
© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published Citation
Sharma, N., Manohar, S., Huhmann, B. A., & Limbu, Y. B. (2025). Mapping the Literature on Short-Selling in Financial Markets: A Lexicometric Analysis. International Journal of Financial Studies, 13(3), 135. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijfs13030135