Introduction. The socio-economic development of states is largely determined by the degree of rational use of natural resources. The current stage of development objectively requires effective scientific and practical approaches to solving the problems of harmonizing the economy and human-nature interaction. The purpose of the research is to analyze the socio-economic aspects of the rational use of natural resources. Materials and methods. A theoretical analysis of research materials (publications in periodicals, conference and analytical proceedings) was used. Results. Economic interest, with the help of which the harmonization of the economic and ecological subsystems is carried out, is the driving factor in the economic system development. At the same time, state regulation is the main element in the market mechanism system, which ensures the combination of personal and public interests in the social production system. Conclusion. Currently, the development of the ecological system is inseparable from the economic one. This implies a unified ecological and economic system with ecological and economic complexes as the subsystems.