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Scale versus scope in the diffusion of new technology: evidence from the farm tractor

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  • Daniel P. Gross

Abstract

Although tractors are now used in nearly every agricultural field operation and in the production of nearly all crops, they first developed with much more limited application. Early diffusion was accordingly rapid in these narrower applications but limited in scope until tractor technology generalized. The sequence of diffusion is consistent with a model of Research and Development (R&D) in specific†versus general†purpose attributes and with other historical examples, suggesting that the key to understanding technology diffusion lies not only in explaining the number of different users, but also in explaining the number of different uses.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel P. Gross, 2018. "Scale versus scope in the diffusion of new technology: evidence from the farm tractor," RAND Journal of Economics, RAND Corporation, vol. 49(2), pages 427-452, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:randje:v:49:y:2018:i:2:p:427-452
    DOI: 10.1111/1756-2171.12230
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    Cited by:

    1. Yuyang Li & Jiahui Li & Xinjie Li & Qian Lu, 2024. "Does Participation in Digital Supply and Marketing Promote Smallholder Farmers’ Adoption of Green Agricultural Production Technologies?," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-24, December.
    2. Tan, Ruipeng & Pan, Lulu, 2024. "How high-speed railway expands beyond local knowledge search in interdisciplinary innovation: Evidence from China," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 143-156.
    3. Bonnín Roca, Jaime & Vaishnav, Parth & Morgan, Granger M. & Fuchs, Erica & Mendonça, Joana, 2021. "Technology Forgiveness: Why emerging technologies differ in their resilience to institutional instability," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    4. Jung, Yeonha, 2020. "The long reach of cotton in the US South: Tenant farming, mechanization, and low-skill manufacturing," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    5. Kevin A. Bryan, 2025. "Comment on "An Economy of AI Agents"," NBER Chapters, in: The Economics of Transformative AI, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    6. Philipp Ager & Marc Goñi & Kjell Salvanes, 2023. "Gender-Biased Technological Change: Milking Machines and the Exodus of Women from Farming," Working Papers 2023-017, Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Working Group.
    7. Eunhee Sohn & Robert Seamans & Daniel B. Sands, 2024. "Technology adoption and innovation: The establishment of airmail and aviation innovation in the United States, 1918–1935," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(1), pages 3-35, January.
    8. Jónína Einarsdóttir & Geir Gunnlaugsson, 2024. "Child Fatalities in Tractor-Related Accidents in Rural Iceland, 1918–2024: A Historical Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(10), pages 1-19, September.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • N52 - Economic History - - Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment and Extractive Industries - - - U.S.; Canada: 1913-
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • Q16 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - R&D; Agricultural Technology; Biofuels; Agricultural Extension Services

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