Learning about a New Technology: Pineapple in Ghana

This paper investigates the role of social learning in the diffusion of a new agricultural technology in Ghana. We use unique data on farmers' communication patterns to define each individual's information neighborhood. Conditional on many potentially confounding variables, we find evidenc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American economic review 2010-03, Vol.100 (1), p.35-69
Main Authors: Conley, Timothy G., Udry, Christopher R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural production
Agricultural techniques
Agricultural technology
Agriculture
Crop harvesting
Developing countries
Economic analysis
Emerging technology
Farm economics
Farmers
Farming methods
Fertilizers
Geography
Ghana
Information
Investigations
LDCs
Learning
Neighborhoods
New technology
Observational learning
Organic farming
Planting
Plants
Studies
Technology adoption
Technology transfer
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Summary:This paper investigates the role of social learning in the diffusion of a new agricultural technology in Ghana. We use unique data on farmers' communication patterns to define each individual's information neighborhood. Conditional on many potentially confounding variables, we find evidence that farmers adjust their inputs to align with those of their information neighbors who were surprisingly successful in previous periods. The relationship of these input adjustments to experience further indicates the presence of social learning. In addition, applying the same method to input choices for another crop, of known technology, correctly indicates an absence of social learning effects.
ISSN:0002-8282
1944-7981
DOI:10.1257/aer.100.1.35