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Learning by Doing and Learning from Others: Human Capital and Technical Change in Agriculture

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  • Foster, Andrew D
  • Rosenzweig, Mark R

Abstract

Household-level panel data from a nationally representative sample of rural Indian households describing the adoption and profitability of high-yielding seed varieties (HYVs) associated with the Green Revolution are used to test the implications of a model incorporating learning by doing and learning spillovers. The estimates indicate that imperfect knowledge about the management of the new seeds was a significant barrier to adoption; this barrier diminished as farmer experience with the new technologies increased; own experience and neighbors' experience with HYVs significantly increased HYV profitability; and farmers do not fully incorporate the village returns to learning in making adoption decisions. Copyright 1995 by University of Chicago Press.

Suggested Citation

  • Foster, Andrew D & Rosenzweig, Mark R, 1995. "Learning by Doing and Learning from Others: Human Capital and Technical Change in Agriculture," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 103(6), pages 1176-1209, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jpolec:v:103:y:1995:i:6:p:1176-1209
    DOI: 10.1086/601447
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