Planned obsolescence has evolved into an interdisciplinary field of research associated with sustainability, consumer behavior, environmental impacts, technology, and circular economy policies. However, the literature appears to exhibit a theoretically fragmented structure, while the conceptual relationships among different research approaches remain insufficiently clarified. This study aims to reveal the conceptual positioning of the field by examining the intellectual and thematic structure of the planned obsolescence literature through bibliometric analyses. To this end, studies published in the Web of Science (WoS) database up to 2026 were analyzed. The data collection process was not limited solely to the concept of “planned obsolescence”; instead, a broader search strategy encompassing different forms of obsolescence was adopted. The study employs citation analysis, co-citation analysis, keyword co-occurrence analysis, and temporal trend analysis. The findings indicate that the literature has expanded considerably, particularly after 2010, shifting from discussions centered on economic models and product durability toward themes such as sustainability, circular economy, technological obsolescence, and consumer behavior. Co-citation analysis reveals two dominant theoretical orientations: an economic approach and a sustainability-oriented approach. Keyword analyses further demonstrate that themes such as technological obsolescence and consumer behavior constitute intersectional areas linking these orientations. The study concludes that planned obsolescence does not represent an independent and homogeneous field of research; rather, it reflects a multidimensional structure developing at the intersection of economic, technological, environmental, and consumer-oriented approaches. Accordingly, the study proposes a conceptual matrix that systematically positions the planned obsolescence literature on the basis of theoretical orientation and level of analysis.
Planned obsolescence has evolved into an interdisciplinary field of research associated with sustainability, consumer behavior, environmental impacts, technology, and circular economy policies. However, the literature appears to exhibit a theoretically fragmented structure, while the conceptual relationships among different research approaches remain insufficiently clarified. This study aims to reveal the conceptual positioning of the field by examining the intellectual and thematic structure of the planned obsolescence literature through bibliometric analyses. To this end, studies published in the Web of Science (WoS) database up to 2026 were analyzed. The data collection process was not limited solely to the concept of “planned obsolescence”; instead, a broader search strategy encompassing different forms of obsolescence was adopted. The study employs citation analysis, co-citation analysis, keyword co-occurrence analysis, and temporal trend analysis. The findings indicate that the literature has expanded considerably, particularly after 2010, shifting from discussions centered on economic models and product durability toward themes such as sustainability, circular economy, technological obsolescence, and consumer behavior. Co-citation analysis reveals two dominant theoretical orientations: an economic approach and a sustainability-oriented approach. Keyword analyses further demonstrate that themes such as technological obsolescence and consumer behavior constitute intersectional areas linking these orientations. The study concludes that planned obsolescence does not represent an independent and homogeneous field of research; rather, it reflects a multidimensional structure developing at the intersection of economic, technological, environmental, and consumer-oriented approaches. Accordingly, the study proposes a conceptual matrix that systematically positions the planned obsolescence literature on the basis of theoretical orientation and level of analysis.
