Technological Innovations, Downside Risk, and the Modernization of Agriculture

S-Tier
Journal: American Economic Review
Year: 2016
Volume: 106
Issue: 6
Pages: 1537-61

Authors (4)

Kyle Emerick (Tufts University) Alain de Janvry (not in RePEc) Elisabeth Sadoulet Manzoor H. Dar (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 4 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We use a randomized experiment in India to show that improved technology enhances agricultural productivity by crowding in modern inputs and cultivation practices. Specifically, we show that a new rice variety that reduces downside risk by providing flood tolerance has positive effects on adoption of a more labor-intensive planting method, area cultivated, fertilizer usage, and credit utilization. We find that a large share of the expected gains from the technology comes from crowding in of other investments. Therefore, improved technologies that reduce risk by protecting production in bad years have the potential to increase agricultural productivity in normal years.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:aea:aecrev:v:106:y:2016:i:6:p:1537-61
Journal Field
General
Author Count
4
Added to Database
2026-01-25