Geology as a contributor to national economies and their development

This paper examines the direct and indirect contribution to national economies attributable to the geosciences, principally as delivered by geological survey organisations. In particular, it looks at those sectors of the economy that depend to some degree or other on the provision of geological information, and tries to quantify the cost-benefits. This analysis is done partly through case studies of countries in different stages of economic development and, by comparing geoscience dependent outputs through time, adjusted for commodity price inflation, their impact on poverty alleviation is assessed. Primary production of natural resources is one aspect of economic contribution. However there are other factors; these include cost-damage avoidance through better understanding and mitigation of natural hazards and of support for socioeconomic stability in activities such as artisanal mining and minerals trading. Finally, there are trickle down economic indicators that result from skills and educational developments associated with inward investments. Set against this is the cost of environmental damage and social disorder that are often associated with resource exploitation. The study brings together various published materials in an attempt to set a monetary value on the collection, management and dissemination of geoscience information.