Proxy means tests: A worldwide bibliometric study and lessons for zakat eligibility screening in Malaysia

Abstract

This study provides the first bibliometric examination of global research on Proxy Means Testing (PMT) and evaluates its usefulness for strengthening zakat eligibility assessment in Malaysia. The objectives are to trace the development of PMT scholarship, identify key contributors, and capture thematic patterns linked to poverty targeting in contexts where income is informal or undocumented. Using Scopus as the primary database, 94 publications dated between 1999 and 2026 were retrieved and analysed through performance metrics and science-mapping methods. Harzing’s Publish or Perish supported citation profiling, while VOSviewer was applied to visualise co-authorship relationships and keyword co-occurrence networks. The findings show a gradual increase in PMT research activity, with more than half of all studies published after 2019. The majority of publications fall within the Social Sciences and Economics and originate mainly from the United States and Europe. Contributions from Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa remain limited despite widespread implementation of PMT in these regions. The most influential papers focus on practical execution of PMT, targeting efficiency and eligibility model design. Keyword analysis reveals five major thematic streams that structure the field: poverty measurement, health-sector targeting, programme performance, analytical and methodological development, and vulnerable or mobile populations. The study identifies four major research gaps with direct relevance to zakat governance. These relate to the absence of PMT applications in non-state welfare systems, limited evidence from Muslim-majority contexts, uneven use of advanced analytic tools and minimal exploration of crisis-affected communities. Practical implications point to opportunities for Malaysia to trial PMT-informed zakat screening aligned with informal household income profiles and supported by emerging digital systems. The originality of the study lies in connecting PMT knowledge with Islamic social finance priorities and demonstrating how bibliometric evidence can support the development of more consistent and transparent eligibility frameworks for asnaf.