Analysis of Foster & Rosenzweig, "Learning by Doing and Learning from Others: Human Capital and Technical Change in Agriculture".
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 (i) imperfect knowledge about the management of the new seeds was a significant barrier to adoption; (ii) this barrier dimin- ished as farmer experience with the new technologies increased; (iii) own experience and neighbors' experience with HYVs significantly increased HYV profitability; and (iv) farmers do not fully incorpo- rate the village returns to learning in making adoption decisions."
About the speaker
The Knowledge, Innovation & Technology (KIT) Discussion Group exists to facilitate intellectual discussion and knowledge-sharing for PhDs, Postdocs and other researchers at SBE and UNU-MERIT who are working on topics related to knowledge, technology and innovation. The group organizes regular discussion seminars with a focus on growth theory, economics of innovation, intellectual property, science and technology studies, science, technology and innovation policy, innovation studies, technological transitions, patent policy, and related sub-disciplines.
Venue: UNU-MERIT BOARD Room, 1st Floor
Date: 14 May 2014
Time: 15:30
