Abstract:

The public performance of local authorities in the field of public transport is a major challenge in light of growing demands for efficiency, sustainability, and quality in local public services. Although this topic is attracting increasing scientific interest, the literature remains fragmented and scattered across several disciplinary fields. This article presents a quantitative bibliometric analysis aimed at structuring and mapping scientific output on the performance of local authoritiesin the field of public transport.
The study is based on data from international scientific databases and uses an approach based on word occurrence analysis and scientific performance indicators. Three research sets were created using queries combining the concepts of public management, performance, public services, and transportation. The analyses focus on the evolution of publications over time, the productivity of scientific actors, and the thematic dynamics of the field.
The results reveal sustained growth in academic output, a thematic structure dominated by issues of organizational efficiency, local governance, and sustainable mobility, as well as a reconfiguration of themes after 2020. This study helps to clarify the scientific dynamics of the field
and opens up perspectives for future research.