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Information provision studies in agriculture
Often the effect of new information on farmers' beliefs and preferences is tested. The effect of information provision is important as it can be used as a policy tool. This thesis investigates the effect of new information on farmers' beliefs and preferences related to sustainable agricultural practices.
Testing the effect of new information on beliefs and preferences is often done using randomised control trials where different groups of individuals are given different information. This allows theories to be tested and policy relevant questions to be answered (Haaland et al., 2020). After receiving new information, individuals may update their beliefs or preferences. Therefore, information campaigns are a potential tool to encourage behaviours for example to increase sustainable agricultural practices (Kuhfuss et al., 2016). In agricultural settings, the effect of information has been tested on farmers’ water use and fertilizer use (e.g. Arouna et al., 2021; Chabé-Ferret et al., 2019). This thesis will review the literature on experiments testing the effect of new information when farmers are the participants and provide an overview of the effect of information on farmers beliefs and preferences.
Testing the effect of new information on beliefs and preferences is often done using randomised control trials where different groups of individuals are given different information. This allows theories to be tested and policy relevant questions to be answered (Haaland et al., 2020). After receiving new information, individuals may update their beliefs or preferences. Therefore, information campaigns are a potential tool to encourage behaviours for example to increase sustainable agricultural practices (Kuhfuss et al., 2016). In agricultural settings, the effect of information has been tested on farmers’ water use and fertilizer use (e.g. Arouna et al., 2021; Chabé-Ferret et al., 2019). This thesis will review the literature on experiments testing the effect of new information when farmers are the participants and provide an overview of the effect of information on farmers beliefs and preferences.
The goal of this thesis is to provide an overview of the effect of new information on farmers beliefs and preferences related to sustainable agriculture. A detailed literature review will be completed to identify in which situations new information affects farmers’ beliefs and preferences and which type of information is most effective. The thesis will provide policy recommendations regarding which types of information campaigns would be effective in increasing adoption of sustainable agriculture.
**Literature**
Arouna, A., Michler, J. D., Yergo, W. G., & Saito, K. (2021). One Size Fits All? Experimental Evidence on the Digital Delivery of Personalized Extension Advice in Nigeria. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 103(2), 596–619. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajae.12151
Chabé-Ferret, S., le Coent, P., Reynaud, A., Subervie, J., & Lepercq, D. (2019). Can we nudge farmers into saving water? Evidence from a randomised experiment. European Review of Agricultural Economics, 46(3), 393–416. https://doi.org/10.1093/erae/jbz022
Haaland, I., Roth, C., & Wohlfart, J. (2020). Designing Information Provision Experiments. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3638879
Kuhfuss, L., Préget, R., Thoyer, S., Hanley, N., le Coent, P., & Désolé, M. (2016). Nudges, social norms, and permanence in agri-environmental schemes. Land Economics, 92(4), 641–655. https://doi.org/10.3368/le.92.4.641
The goal of this thesis is to provide an overview of the effect of new information on farmers beliefs and preferences related to sustainable agriculture. A detailed literature review will be completed to identify in which situations new information affects farmers’ beliefs and preferences and which type of information is most effective. The thesis will provide policy recommendations regarding which types of information campaigns would be effective in increasing adoption of sustainable agriculture.
**Literature**
Arouna, A., Michler, J. D., Yergo, W. G., & Saito, K. (2021). One Size Fits All? Experimental Evidence on the Digital Delivery of Personalized Extension Advice in Nigeria. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 103(2), 596–619. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajae.12151 Chabé-Ferret, S., le Coent, P., Reynaud, A., Subervie, J., & Lepercq, D. (2019). Can we nudge farmers into saving water? Evidence from a randomised experiment. European Review of Agricultural Economics, 46(3), 393–416. https://doi.org/10.1093/erae/jbz022 Haaland, I., Roth, C., & Wohlfart, J. (2020). Designing Information Provision Experiments. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3638879 Kuhfuss, L., Préget, R., Thoyer, S., Hanley, N., le Coent, P., & Désolé, M. (2016). Nudges, social norms, and permanence in agri-environmental schemes. Land Economics, 92(4), 641–655. https://doi.org/10.3368/le.92.4.641
Chloe McCallum: cmccallum@ethz.ch Robert Finger: rofinger@ethz.ch
Chloe McCallum: cmccallum@ethz.ch Robert Finger: rofinger@ethz.ch