Table 2 Synthesis and research gaps... | Emerald Publishing

Table 2

Synthesis and research gaps

Dimension	Findings/coverage	Key references
Extent of literature fit and coverage	Behavioral determinants: Moderately covered, with emphasis on consumer preferences and some attention to courier motivations and psychological factors. Limited deep behavioral theory and cross-country cultural analysis	Karlı and Tanyaş (2024), Cauwelier et al. (2024) and Alharbi (2025)
	Sustainable last-mile delivery: Extensively covered, especially technological and operational innovations, but less so in relation to behavioral interventions	Kervola et al. (2022), Lingkon and Ali (2024) and Ferreira and Esperanca (2025)
	MENA urban centers: Regional context and governance addressed, but integration with behavioral determinants remains superficial	Shehata (2023), Chaudhry et al. (2025) and Hadoud (2024)
Identified gaps and underexplored areas	Integration of behavioral and regional analysis: Few studies systematically link behavioral determinants with MENA-specific urban challenges	Cauwelier et al. (2024), Rodriguez-Palero et al. (2025) and Illahi and Mir (2022)
	Cross-disciplinary methodologies: Limited use of hybrid approaches combining behavioral experiments, digital twins and stakeholder engagement	Illahi and Mir (2021) and Shaker et al. (2025)
	Policy innovation: Need for regulatory and incentive frameworks tailored to MENA's socio-cultural and infrastructural realities	Dimitropoulos and Lokhandwala (2021) and Alkhazali et al. (2025)
Directions for Future Research	Deepen behavioral research: Apply advanced behavioral science methods (e.g. field experiments and nudges) in MENA urban logistics	Alkhazali et al. (2025)
	Contextualization of interventions: Develop and test interventions reflecting cultural, demographic and infrastructural diversity in MENA cities	Mogire et al. (2025) and Dimitropoulos and Lokhandwala (2021)
	Hybrid models: Combine digital twin simulations with stakeholder analysis and behavioral modeling for comprehensive assessment	Illahi and Mir (2021), Shaker et al. (2025)
	Policy and governance innovation: Investigate flexible, multi-level governance arrangements encouraging public–private–community partnerships and citizen engagement	Dimitropoulos and Lokhandwala (2021) and Gura et al. (2022)

Dimension	Findings/coverage	Key references
Extent of literature fit and coverage	Behavioral determinants: Moderately covered, with emphasis on consumer preferences and some attention to courier motivations and psychological factors. Limited deep behavioral theory and cross-country cultural analysis	Karlı and Tanyaş (2024), Cauwelier et al. (2024) and Alharbi (2025)
	Sustainable last-mile delivery: Extensively covered, especially technological and operational innovations, but less so in relation to behavioral interventions	Kervola et al. (2022), Lingkon and Ali (2024) and Ferreira and Esperanca (2025)
	MENA urban centers: Regional context and governance addressed, but integration with behavioral determinants remains superficial	Shehata (2023), Chaudhry et al. (2025) and Hadoud (2024)
Identified gaps and underexplored areas	Integration of behavioral and regional analysis: Few studies systematically link behavioral determinants with MENA-specific urban challenges	Cauwelier et al. (2024), Rodriguez-Palero et al. (2025) and Illahi and Mir (2022)
	Cross-disciplinary methodologies: Limited use of hybrid approaches combining behavioral experiments, digital twins and stakeholder engagement	Illahi and Mir (2021) and Shaker et al. (2025)
	Policy innovation: Need for regulatory and incentive frameworks tailored to MENA's socio-cultural and infrastructural realities	Dimitropoulos and Lokhandwala (2021) and Alkhazali et al. (2025)
Directions for Future Research	Deepen behavioral research: Apply advanced behavioral science methods (e.g. field experiments and nudges) in MENA urban logistics	Alkhazali et al. (2025)
	Contextualization of interventions: Develop and test interventions reflecting cultural, demographic and infrastructural diversity in MENA cities	Mogire et al. (2025) and Dimitropoulos and Lokhandwala (2021)
	Hybrid models: Combine digital twin simulations with stakeholder analysis and behavioral modeling for comprehensive assessment	Illahi and Mir (2021), Shaker et al. (2025)
	Policy and governance innovation: Investigate flexible, multi-level governance arrangements encouraging public–private–community partnerships and citizen engagement	Dimitropoulos and Lokhandwala (2021) and Gura et al. (2022)