The role of learning in technology adoption: Evidence on hybrid rice adoption in Bihar, India
Much empirical research has shown that individuals’ decisions to adopt a new technology are the result of learning–both through personal experimentation through observing the experimentation of others. Yet even casual observation would suggest significant heterogeneity of learning processes, manifes...
| Autores principales: | , |
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| Formato: | Artículo preliminar |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés |
| Publicado: |
International Food Policy Research Institute
2016
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| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/148493 |
| _version_ | 1855529686053945344 |
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| author | Gars, Jared Ward, Patrick S. |
| author_browse | Gars, Jared Ward, Patrick S. |
| author_facet | Gars, Jared Ward, Patrick S. |
| author_sort | Gars, Jared |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | Much empirical research has shown that individuals’ decisions to adopt a new technology are the result of learning–both through personal experimentation through observing the experimentation of others. Yet even casual observation would suggest significant heterogeneity of learning processes, manifesting itself in widely varying patterns of adoption over space and time. This paper explores this heterogeneity in the context of early adoption of hybrid rice in rural India. Using specially designed experiments conducted as part of a primary survey in the field, we identify which of four broad learning heuristics most accurately reflects individuals’ information processing strategies. Linking these learning heuristics with observed use of rice hybrids, we demonstrate that pure Bayesian learning is well suited for the tinkering and marginal adjustments that are required to learn about a technology like hybrid rice, but it is also more cognitively taxing than other learning styles requiring a longer memory and more complex updating processes. Consequently, only about 25 percent of the farmers in our sample can be characterized as pure Bayesian learners. Present-biased learning and relying on first impressions will likely hinder adoption of a technology like hybrid rice, even after controlling for access to credit and a rudimentary proxy for intelligence. |
| format | Artículo preliminar |
| id | CGSpace148493 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2016 |
| publishDateRange | 2016 |
| publishDateSort | 2016 |
| publisher | International Food Policy Research Institute |
| publisherStr | International Food Policy Research Institute |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1484932025-11-06T06:40:40Z The role of learning in technology adoption: Evidence on hybrid rice adoption in Bihar, India Gars, Jared Ward, Patrick S. technology adoption technology transfer hybrids rice experimental economics Much empirical research has shown that individuals’ decisions to adopt a new technology are the result of learning–both through personal experimentation through observing the experimentation of others. Yet even casual observation would suggest significant heterogeneity of learning processes, manifesting itself in widely varying patterns of adoption over space and time. This paper explores this heterogeneity in the context of early adoption of hybrid rice in rural India. Using specially designed experiments conducted as part of a primary survey in the field, we identify which of four broad learning heuristics most accurately reflects individuals’ information processing strategies. Linking these learning heuristics with observed use of rice hybrids, we demonstrate that pure Bayesian learning is well suited for the tinkering and marginal adjustments that are required to learn about a technology like hybrid rice, but it is also more cognitively taxing than other learning styles requiring a longer memory and more complex updating processes. Consequently, only about 25 percent of the farmers in our sample can be characterized as pure Bayesian learners. Present-biased learning and relying on first impressions will likely hinder adoption of a technology like hybrid rice, even after controlling for access to credit and a rudimentary proxy for intelligence. 2016-12-22 2024-06-21T09:24:50Z 2024-06-21T09:24:50Z Working Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/148493 en https://hdl.handle.net/10568/148053 https://hdl.handle.net/10568/151317 https://hdl.handle.net/10568/150122 Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Gars, Jared; and Ward, Patrick S. 2016. The role of learning in technology adoption: Evidence on hybrid rice adoption in Bihar, India. IFPRI Discussion Paper 1591. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). https://hdl.handle.net/10568/148493 |
| spellingShingle | technology adoption technology transfer hybrids rice experimental economics Gars, Jared Ward, Patrick S. The role of learning in technology adoption: Evidence on hybrid rice adoption in Bihar, India |
| title | The role of learning in technology adoption: Evidence on hybrid rice adoption in Bihar, India |
| title_full | The role of learning in technology adoption: Evidence on hybrid rice adoption in Bihar, India |
| title_fullStr | The role of learning in technology adoption: Evidence on hybrid rice adoption in Bihar, India |
| title_full_unstemmed | The role of learning in technology adoption: Evidence on hybrid rice adoption in Bihar, India |
| title_short | The role of learning in technology adoption: Evidence on hybrid rice adoption in Bihar, India |
| title_sort | role of learning in technology adoption evidence on hybrid rice adoption in bihar india |
| topic | technology adoption technology transfer hybrids rice experimental economics |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/148493 |
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