Browsing by Author "Araya Mertz, Agustín"

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    Diffusion of agricultural technology through social and economic networks: evidence from Nicaragua
    (2024) Araya Mertz, Agustín; Celhay, Pablo; Lafortune, Jeanne; Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Instituto de Economía
    This paper examines how social networks influence agricultural technology diffusion among participantsin the PAIPSAN-CCN program in Nicaragua. I leverage random variation in program participation at both community and household levels combined with detailed social network mapping to identify causal effects of network exposure on adoption patterns. The findings demonstrate three key patterns: (1) threshold effects where three or more treated connections generate substantials pillovers while fewer connections show limited impact, (2) heterogeneous effects where network connections benefit untreated households in basic production but treated households in complex technologies, and (3) stronger effects in the post-subsidy period, suggesting social learning requirestime. These findings indicate that agricultural programs could enhance impact by targeting clusters of connected farmers and that short-term evaluations may underestimate total program benefits.