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 socioeconomic
outcomes, focusing on land and water degradation. 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).
The paper proposes four key elements to consider in such analysis, which can be applied
at different scales: (i) biophysical changes, i.e. the various types of degradation and
their effects on ecosystems; (ii) potential socio-economic impacts of changes in
ecosystems, i.e. the various transmission mechanisms to human development, and the
degree of socio-economic exposure to these. (iii) the resilience of socio-economic
systems, i.e. possibilities for mitigation and the constraints and enablers which govern
whether or not they can be adopted. and (iv), the actual socio-economic impacts
resulting from all of the above.