Rational use of natural resources: issues of economic efficiency

Efficient use of natural resources is an objective necessity and is a condition for solving several economic problems associated with the expansion of the raw material base and reduction of production costs. The article considers the indicator of economic efficiency of natural resources use, presents its assessment, and identifies the main factors influencing the economic efficiency of natural resources use. The methodological basis of the study is formed by the main provisions of economic theory and economics of nature management. Under the influence of scientific and technological advances, radical and effective changes occur in the use of natural resources, contributing to a reduction in production costs and an increase in the economic efficiency of resource use. In the article, using the resource productivity indicator, the economic efficiency of using certain types of natural resources in 2019-2022 was assessed. The study revealed instability of resource productivity indicators. The article concludes that there is a need for a comprehensive solution to the problem of increasing the economic efficiency of natural resources use, which implies radical changes in the mechanism for regulating the process of using natural resources and improving the technology of their extraction and processing.