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Appropriate Technology Use and Autonomy: Evidence from Mexico

Author

Listed:
  • Carolina Corral
  • Xavier Giné
  • Aprajit Mahajan
  • Enrique Seira

Abstract

We explore the role of autonomy – defined as the freedom to choose how to spend an in-kind grant – in a context where farmers overuse fertilizer. We design and implement a field experiment that combines tailored input recommendations, extension services and an in-kind grant. The intervention decreased overall fertilizer use without reducing yields, reducing CO2 equivalent emissions by 14%. While autonomy did not adversely affect the adoption of recommended practices during the intervention, it led to substantially higher adoption two years after the intervention ended.

Suggested Citation

  • Carolina Corral & Xavier Giné & Aprajit Mahajan & Enrique Seira, 2020. "Appropriate Technology Use and Autonomy: Evidence from Mexico," NBER Working Papers 27681, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:27681
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dean Karlan & Robert Osei & Isaac Osei-Akoto & Christopher Udry, 2014. "Agricultural Decisions after Relaxing Credit and Risk Constraints," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 129(2), pages 597-652.
    2. Kondylis, Florence & Mueller, Valerie & Zhu, Jessica, 2017. "Seeing is believing? Evidence from an extension network experiment," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 1-20.
    3. Karen Macours, 2019. "Farmers’ Demand and the Traits and Diffusion of Agricultural Innovations in Developing Countries," Annual Review of Resource Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 11(1), pages 483-499, October.
    4. Aparajita Goyal & John Nash, 2017. "Reaping Richer Returns [Obtenir de meilleurs résultats]," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 25996, December.
    5. Rachid Laaja & Karen Macours, 2021. "Measuring Skills in Developing Countries," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 56(4), pages 1254-1295.
    6. T.S. Jayne & Shahidur Rashid, 2013. "Input subsidy programs in sub-Saharan Africa: a synthesis of recent evidence," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 44(6), pages 547-562, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Harou, Aurélie P. & Madajewicz, Malgosia & Michelson, Hope & Palm, Cheryl A. & Amuri, Nyambilila & Magomba, Christopher & Semoka, Johnson M. & Tschirhart, Kevin & Weil, Ray, 2022. "The joint effects of information and financing constraints on technology adoption: Evidence from a field experiment in rural Tanzania," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    2. Prahlad Lamichhane & Michalis Hadjikakou & Kelly K. Miller & Brett A. Bryan, 2022. "Climate change adaptation in smallholder agriculture: adoption, barriers, determinants, and policy implications," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 27(6), pages 1-24, August.
    3. Mohamed Abouaziza, 2022. "Farmer constraints and relational contracts: evidence from agricultural value chains in East Africa," Economics PhD Theses 0122, Department of Economics, University of Sussex Business School.
    4. Prahlad Lamichhane & Michalis Hadjikakou & Kelly K. Miller & Brett A. Bryan, 2022. "Climate change adaptation in smallholder agriculture: adoption, barriers, determinants, and policy implications," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 27(5), pages 1-24, June.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D01 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Microeconomic Behavior: Underlying Principles
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • Q12 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Micro Analysis of Farm Firms, Farm Households, and Farm Input Markets

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