Entrepreneurial intention and behaviour among welfare recipients and low-income groups: a systematic review of emerging economy

Purpose This study systematically reviews how entrepreneurial intention and behaviour have been empirically examined among marginalised groups, especially welfare recipients and low-income groups in emerging economy contexts. This study aims to clarify how structural influences, motivational and psychological drivers and socio-cultural dimensions shape entrepreneurial intention and behaviour in contexts where entrepreneurship often constitutes a survival strategy rather than an opportunity-driven choice. Design/methodology/approach A systematic review of peer-reviewed journal articles was conducted, followed by qualitative content analysis to synthesise theoretical, methodological and contextual patterns in the literature. Studies were screened using predefined criteria and coded thematically to examine the interplay between motivational antecedents, institutional environments and behavioural outcomes. Findings Findings show that entrepreneurship among marginalised groups is shaped by a multilevel interaction of forces, where micro-level motivations evolve from necessity to opportunity but remain constrained by limited psychological and resource capacity. At the meso and macro levels, socio-cultural systems and structural interventions simultaneously enable participation through networks, trust and support mechanisms, while constraining growth due to gender norms, institutional barriers and fragmented capability development. At the mega level, global forces such as digitalisation and crises expand opportunities yet reinforce inequalities, resulting in a non-linear and contingent transition from intention to behaviour. Practical implications Insights from this review highlight the need for policy instruments and support programmes that acknowledge the heterogeneous intention and behaviour of marginalised entrepreneurs, including those operating in informal or necessity-driven sectors. Social implications Understanding entrepreneurship in contexts marked by scarcity and limited formal employment opportunities provides a basis for designing interventions that can enhance social mobility, reduce vulnerability and strengthen local economic resilience in emerging economies. Originality/value By consolidating a fragmented body of scholarship, this study advances a more context-sensitive understanding of entrepreneurial intention and behaviour among marginalised groups in emerging economies. To the best of the authors knowledge, it offers one of the first field-level mappings of this literature and identifies substantive avenues for future conceptual, methodological and policy-oriented research.