Socio-economic responses to the environment and ecosystem services in regional development

With environmental conditions coming to play an ever-greater role in regional development, this paper has sought to determine how multi-functionality of the environment relates to the formation of regions' development potential, by way of attractor gravity and increased regional viscosity. The attendant analysis has addressed both the theoretical foundations for the modelling of reality and of presentation of the potential for ecological-economic models to be used in the devising of development policies. The proposals made in consequence offer a new perspective on the environment and the role it is playing in socio-economic development, particularly where responses to ecosystem services are concerned.