Caste, social networks and variety adoption

Social networks influence technology diffusion but targeting formal leaders (institutional central nodes) may lead to distributional consequences. This paper analyzes the role of informal social networks in technology diffusion in a socially hierarchical caste-based society. Often, information flow...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Gupta, Ishika, Veettil, Prakashan Chellattan, Speelman, Stijn
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: SAGE Publications 2020
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/164420
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author Gupta, Ishika
Veettil, Prakashan Chellattan
Speelman, Stijn
author_browse Gupta, Ishika
Speelman, Stijn
Veettil, Prakashan Chellattan
author_facet Gupta, Ishika
Veettil, Prakashan Chellattan
Speelman, Stijn
author_sort Gupta, Ishika
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Social networks influence technology diffusion but targeting formal leaders (institutional central nodes) may lead to distributional consequences. This paper analyzes the role of informal social networks in technology diffusion in a socially hierarchical caste-based society. Often, information flow and technology diffusion are constrained by social and economic boundaries where informal nodes such as caste play a very decisive role in everyday life. Proper targeting and dissemination of technology to the marginalized sections of society are very important for their development. We observed that only one-fourth of farmers cultivate newer varieties which include hybrids and recently released high yielding varieties. The results showed that individuals belonging to marginal groups are influential and act as informal leaders when they are the dominant caste in the village. Progressive farmers are found to fail in disseminating new varieties, and targeting influential informal leaders who belong to the dominant caste of the village appears to be a better strategy. Among non-dominant caste members, influential leaders belonging to Other Backward Classes (OBCs) or Scheduled Tribes (STs) are more desirable targets than other caste groups. The more concentrated a network is in terms of its caste composition, the faster will be the spread of any technology.
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spelling CGSpace1644202024-12-22T05:44:52Z Caste, social networks and variety adoption Gupta, Ishika Veettil, Prakashan Chellattan Speelman, Stijn business and international management development general economics econometrics and finance general social sciences history Social networks influence technology diffusion but targeting formal leaders (institutional central nodes) may lead to distributional consequences. This paper analyzes the role of informal social networks in technology diffusion in a socially hierarchical caste-based society. Often, information flow and technology diffusion are constrained by social and economic boundaries where informal nodes such as caste play a very decisive role in everyday life. Proper targeting and dissemination of technology to the marginalized sections of society are very important for their development. We observed that only one-fourth of farmers cultivate newer varieties which include hybrids and recently released high yielding varieties. The results showed that individuals belonging to marginal groups are influential and act as informal leaders when they are the dominant caste in the village. Progressive farmers are found to fail in disseminating new varieties, and targeting influential informal leaders who belong to the dominant caste of the village appears to be a better strategy. Among non-dominant caste members, influential leaders belonging to Other Backward Classes (OBCs) or Scheduled Tribes (STs) are more desirable targets than other caste groups. The more concentrated a network is in terms of its caste composition, the faster will be the spread of any technology. 2020-08 2024-12-19T12:53:52Z 2024-12-19T12:53:52Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/164420 en Open Access SAGE Publications Gupta, Ishika; Veettil, Prakashan Chellattan and Speelman, Stijn. 2020. Caste, social networks and variety adoption. Journal of South Asian Development, Volume 15 no. 2 p. 155-183
spellingShingle business and international management development general economics
econometrics and finance general social sciences history
Gupta, Ishika
Veettil, Prakashan Chellattan
Speelman, Stijn
Caste, social networks and variety adoption
title Caste, social networks and variety adoption
title_full Caste, social networks and variety adoption
title_fullStr Caste, social networks and variety adoption
title_full_unstemmed Caste, social networks and variety adoption
title_short Caste, social networks and variety adoption
title_sort caste social networks and variety adoption
topic business and international management development general economics
econometrics and finance general social sciences history
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/164420
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AT speelmanstijn castesocialnetworksandvarietyadoption