Mapping inequalities in the academic research ecosystem: A systematic literature review

Inequalities in the academic research ecosystem are ubiquitous, persistent phenomena, and recent tendencies indicate they are rising. There is, however, no clear overview on how inequalities are conceptualized and studied. In this webinar, I provide insight to key findings of my recent study, Mapping inequalities in the academic research ecosystem: A systematic literature review. The study maps inequalities across the research system, excluding gender and intersectional inequalities, in order to answer the questions of how inequality is conceptualised in research and how is it studied. Based on an initial screening of 4,890 articles, I identify 224 studies published between 1982 and early 2025, representing all disciplines of academia. I identify 22 conceptual themes of inequality which are highly interconnected, emphasizing the multidimensionality and complexity of the concept. I analyse temporal trends, revealing a recent increase in publications. Further examination shows a strong dominance of Global North authorship and focus, and a widespread use of quantitative methods—especially bibliometrics. Additionally, the literature’s use of theoretical frameworks and explanatory models is examined, and I find that theoretical engagement is generally sparse. Similarly, the literature only to a limited degree addresses structural drivers and the effects of inequality on the research ecosystem. The study proposes a consolidated framework to support future research, which can be further discussed during the webinar.