Water Accounting in Social Sciences: Trends, Developments, and Future Research Directions

Abstract

Water accounting is crucial for providing integrated information that supports water governance and management. It provides a foundation for informed decision-making for various stakeholders who rely on water information for different purposes. Water accounting is not new; it has evolved significantly over the past three decades. This study systematically reviews publications in Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) journals within the Web of Science database through bibliometric analysis, examining the research trends and developments in water accounting. One hundred-five publications were analyzed, revealing fluctuating yet increasing research activity. The earliest recorded study dates to 2005, with a marked increase in publications after 2012. The Journal of Cleaner Production and The Journal of Sustainability are the leading sources, each contributing nine studies. Australia has emerged as a dominant contributor to water accounting research in social sciences, followed by China. Key trending topics in the field include water footprint, virtual water, consumption, trade, sustainability, and scarcity. Future research should focus on corporate water accounting, virtual water, and consumption patterns of entities and individuals and strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration in water studies. This study aims to enhance academics' awareness and understanding of water accounting in water management, governance, water economics, and environmental accounting.