Socio-Economic and Demographic Drivers/Barriers in Sustainable Practice Adoption

The adoption of sustainable practices across agriculture, business, and consumption remains a critical challenge for achieving global sustainability goals. This review synthesizes literature on socio-economic and demographic factors serving as drivers or barriers to sustainable practice adoption. It examines frameworks including the Theory of Planned Behavior, Technology Acceptance Model, Diffusion of Innovation Theory, and the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework. Key drivers include income, market access, credit availability, extension services, and social capital; while barriers encompass financial constraints, limited knowledge, institutional weaknesses, and risk perceptions. Demographic factors such as age, education, gender, and household size show varying effects across contexts. The review reveals that adoption decisions result from complex interactions between individual characteristics, household resources, institutional support, and contextual factors. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies, comparative analyses, and the role of emerging technologies and climate change. Policymakers should design integrated, context-specific, and inclusive approaches to accelerate adoption.