Understanding the effects of resource degradation on socio- economic outcomes in developing countries

The links between the environment and the economy have risen on policy and academic agendas. This paper scopes out the linkages between resource degradation and socio economic outcomes, focusing on land and water degradation. ( Land for forest, land for agriculture, land for biodiversity, land for agriculture, land for human settlements). The overall research aims to address some of the shortcomings in existing models and projections of economic growth and resource degradation, which do not incorporate feedback mechanisms related to environmental degradation.
The paper suggests that the socio economic impact of resource degradation depends on (i) direct transmission mechanisms; and (ii) the ability of producers and consumers to follow mitigation strategies (this could be termed economic, social and governance resilience).
This paper examines the impact of resource degradation. Resource degradation is the deterioration of the environment through depletion of resources such as air, water and soil, the destruction of ecosystems and the extinction of wildlife. It is defined as any change or disturbance to the environment that is perceived to be deleterious or undesirable.

Keywordseconomic growth, resource degradation, socio-economic outcomes, economic incentives