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Some key conditions about economic assessment processes Volume 23, issue 3, Juillet-Août-Septembre 2012

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Authors
Université de Montpellier 1 UMR 5281 ART-DEV Avenue Raymond-Dugrand CS 79606 34960 Montpellier cedex 2 France, CIHEAM-IAMM UMR MOISA 3191, route de Mende 34093 Montpellier cedex 5 France, Inra UMR Lameta Place Viala 34060 Montpellier France

Economic valuation methods have been widely democratized, and they have become an important social issue. However, it is essential that valuation tools are deployed in accordance with the principles of economic theory. Confusion exists in the sometimes incorrect use of the word itself. To assess is to compare; it is not simply to assign a value. The question of the validity of self-assessment protocols is actually asked and so is the principle of assessing the effects of activity. In addition, we must consider the nature and content of the indicators used. Economic evaluations applied to actions to combat desertification are rare and the unavailability of data is often a contributing factor to their rarity. However, the characteristics and circumstances of affected areas could feed back methodological reflection on economic evaluation.