The Value of Information in Technology Adoption

Arbeitspapier

We develop a theoretical model in which technology adoption decisions are based on the information received from others about the quality of a new technology and on their risk attitudes. We test the predictions of this model using a randomized field experiment in Bangladesh. We show that the share of treated farmers who receive better training in System of Rice Intensification (SRI) technology have a high positive impact on the adoption rate of untreated farmers. We also find that untreated farmers who are more risk-averse tend to adopt the technology less and are less influenced by their treated peers. Our results thus indicate that spillover effects are important in technology adoption and that information transmission about the quality of the technology matters

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: IFN Working Paper ; No. 1363

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Economic Development: Agriculture; Natural Resources; Energy; Environment; Other Primary Products ; Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification
• Subject: Technology adoption ; Peers ; Risk attitude ; RCT ; Bangladesh

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Islam, Asad ; Ushchev, Philip ; Zenou, Yves ; Zhang, Xin
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN)
• (where): Stockholm
• (when): 2020

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/240506
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:42 AM CET