It discusses the socioeconomic factors affecting land degradation in Brazil, Australia and China. There are interesting differences between these major countries. The higher per-capita land-size and the control of a major share of land by the government are important enablers in Brazil whereas the cost/difficulty of enforcing public ownership over vast stretches of land is a challenge there. Though forests were degraded drastically in China, industrial/economic development during the last five decades has enhanced the incentives and capabilities to adopt land restoration policies. The long standing economic development and policies which ensured that the majority of its people benefit from such development, combined with reasonably functioning institutions and governance could keep land degradation relatively lower in Australia.