This document provides an overview of theoretical and empirical studies on deforestation. It begins with definitions of forest and deforestation from various institutions like the FAO, UNEP, and UNFCCC. It discusses factors that influence deforestation, categorizing them as proximate/direct causes and underlying/indirect causes. The document then explores several economic theories of deforestation in more depth, including the proximate-underlying causes theory, environmental Kuznets curve theory for deforestation, forest transition theory, and land rent/land use change theory. It concludes by reviewing similarities and differences across these theories and possibilities for future extensions.