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Receptiveness to advice, cognitive ability, and technology adoption

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  • Barham, Bradford L.
  • Chavas, Jean-Paul
  • Fitz, Dylan
  • Schechter, Laura

Abstract

We construct a model of technology adoption with agents differing on two dimensions: their cognitive ability and their receptiveness to advice. While cognitive ability unambiguously speeds adoption, receptiveness to advice may speed adoption for individuals with low cognitive ability, but slow adoption for individuals with high cognitive ability. We conduct economic experiments measuring US farmers’ cognitive ability and receptiveness to advice and examine how these characteristics impact their speed of adoption of genetically modified (GM) corn seeds. The empirical analysis shows that early adopters are those who are both quite able cognitively and not receptive to advice.

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  • Barham, Bradford L. & Chavas, Jean-Paul & Fitz, Dylan & Schechter, Laura, 2018. "Receptiveness to advice, cognitive ability, and technology adoption," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 239-268.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:149:y:2018:i:c:p:239-268
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2017.12.025
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    2. Xingguang Li & Wen Xue & Xuexi Huo, 2023. "Fertilizer application training programs, the adoption of formula fertilization techniques and agricultural productivity: Evidence from 691 apple growers in China," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 47(2), pages 298-316, May.
    3. Wallace E. Huffman, 2020. "Human Capital and Adoption of Innovations: Policy Implications," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 42(1), pages 92-99, March.
    4. Jean‐Paul Chavas & Céline Nauges, 2020. "Uncertainty, Learning, and Technology Adoption in Agriculture," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 42(1), pages 42-53, March.
    5. Mao, Hui & Zhou, Li & Ying, RuiYao & Pan, Dan, 2021. "Time Preferences and green agricultural technology adoption: Field evidence from rice farmers in China," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    6. Läpple, Doris & Maertens, Annemie & Barham, Bradford L., 2023. "Communication and advice-taking: Evidence from a laboratory experiment," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 228(C).
    7. Camille Boudot‐Reddy & Anita Mukherjee, 2021. "Improving the adoption of household health products: A sales experiment with chlorine tablets," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(3), pages 623-641, March.
    8. Aminata Diagne & Lota Tamini & Patrick Mundler, 2019. "Factors Explaining the Dynamics of Agricultural Technology Adoption: Evidence from Senegal's Rain Maize Farmers," CIRANO Working Papers 2019s-08, CIRANO.
    9. Annemie Maertens & Hope Michelson & Vesall Nourani, 2021. "How Do Farmers Learn from Extension Services? Evidence from Malawi," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 103(2), pages 569-595, March.
    10. Do‐il Yoo & Jean‐Paul Chavas, 2023. "Dynamic modeling of biotechnology adoption with individual versus social learning: An application to US corn farmers," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 39(1), pages 148-166, January.
    11. Tjernström, Emilia & Lybbert, Travis J. & Hernández, Rachel Frattarola & Correa, Juan Sebastian, 2021. "Learning by (virtually) doing: Experimentation and belief updating in smallholder agriculture," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 189(C), pages 28-50.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Technology adoption; Learning; Receptiveness to advice; Responsiveness to advice; Advice-taking; Cognitive ability; Economic experiments; Genetically modified seeds;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D22 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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