Abstract
Entrepreneurship policy occupies a significant role in the economic and social development policies of BRICS Plus states, but its efficacy is still debated. This study seeks to analyse the congruence between entrepreneurship policy frameworks, institutional conditions, and the realities of entrepreneurial ecosystems in situations where entrepreneurship is extensively advocated as a catalyst for job creation, poverty alleviation, and inclusive growth. This study employs a systematic literature review framework based on PRISMA principles, utilising peer-reviewed research from entrepreneurship, public policy, and development studies to examine the influence of policy instruments and institutional arrangements on entrepreneurial activity and development outcomes. The analysis indicates a continual disparity between policy intentions and actual implementation, marked by the prevalence of formal, organization-focused, and growth-driven policy assumptions that insufficiently address the informal, hybrid, and collective entrepreneurial practices common in BRICS Plus environments. Key findings (i) reveal inadequate integration of community-level ecosystems, (ii) institutional complexity hindering policy implementation, and (iii) misalignment between entrepreneurship policy objectives and inclusive development as well as Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) outcomes. The study proposes a policy-ecosystem alignment framework that redefines entrepreneurship policy as an adaptive, multi-tiered process situated within intricate institutional contexts. The research proposes a Policy–Ecosystem Alignment Framework that synthesises policy orientation, institutional conditions, ecosystem dynamics, and development results to elucidate disparities in entrepreneurial policy efficacy among BRICS Plus nations. The study suggests that achieving more inclusive and context-sensitive entrepreneurship outcomes in BRICS Plus nations necessitates policy frameworks that acknowledge entrepreneurial variety, institutional diversity, and ecosystem dynamics.