In 2025, a select group of economists and business researchers received global recognition for their exceptional and far-reaching impact.

The highly cited researcher is making the intellectual foundations of economic theory drive innovations in business practice and provide the empirical evidence. Their findings inform decision-making across governments, corporations, and international organizations.

The Highly Cited Researchers list compiled by Clarivate identifies leading scholars in the sciences and social sciences. Their research has demonstrated exceptionally broad and lasting influence over the past eleven years. The following annual list highlights individuals whose publications consistently rank among the most-cited.

To qualify for this distinction, each selected researcher has authored multiple Highly Cited Papers. They ranked among the top 1% by citations in their field and year of publication. This is particularly within the Web of Science Core Collection over the past 11 years. The time horizon ensures that recognition is based on sustained impact rather than temporary attention or short-term publication trends. It highlights scholars whose contributions remain influential amid changing research priorities, evolving economic conditions, and shifts in the business landscape.

David Pendlebury, Head of Research Analysis at the Institute for Scientific Information at Clarivate, expressed:

As the need for high-quality data from rigorously selected sources is becoming ever more important, we have adapted and responded to technological advances and shifts in the publishing landscape. Just as we have applied stringent standards and transparent selection criteria to identify trusted journals in the Web of Science, we continue to refine our evaluation and selection policies for our annual Highly Cited Researchers program to address the challenges of an increasingly complex and polluted scholarly record.