The Roles of Adoption and Behavior Change in Agricultural Policy. Issue 1 (5th February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pannell, David J.; Claassen, Roger
• Is Part Of: Applied economic perspectives and policy. Volume 42:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 31
• Page End: 41
• Publication Date: 2020-02-05
• Subjects: Adoption of innovations -- Policy design -- Policy implementation -- Additionality -- Agricultural policy; Agriculture -- Economic aspects -- Periodicals; Agriculture and state -- Periodicals; 338.105
• DOI: 10.1002/aepp.13009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2040-5790

Abstract

Abstract: Much of agricultural and agri‐environmental policy is concerned with influencing the behavior of farmers in adopting new practices. An ability to understand and predict adoption of practices is useful for agricultural policy in several ways, including assessing additionality, selecting policy mechanisms, targeting policy to practices, farmer types or regions, and assessing likely policy success. Clear thinking about adoption is sometimes clouded by ambiguous and inconsistent language. We suggest a number of terms that are more specific than "adoption." Research needs include collection of long‐term data sets on adoption of a variety of practices, understanding what determines continuous, sustained adoption of conservation practices and a better understanding of why adoption varies between farms.