Does localized imitation drive technology adoption? A case study on rooftop photovoltaic systems in Germany

Johannes Rode and Alexander Weber

Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, 2016, vol. 78, issue C, 38-48

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to illuminate the spatio-temporal diffusion of rooftop household photovoltaic installations in Germany and to test whether localized imitation drives their adoption. Our study is based on a unique data set of some 576,000 household photovoltaic systems installed in Germany through 2009. We employ an epidemic diffusion model which includes a spatial dimension, and control for temporal and spatial heterogeneity. According to our results, imitative adoption behavior is highly localized and an important factor for the diffusion of household photovoltaic systems.

Keywords: Photovoltaics (PV); Solar cells; Technology adoption and diffusion; Imitation; Epidemic model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O33 Q42 R19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (84)

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Working Paper: Does Localized Imitation Drive Technology Adoption? A Case Study on Rooftop Photovoltaic Systems in Germany (2016)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jeeman:v:78:y:2016:i:c:p:38-48

DOI: 10.1016/j.jeem.2016.02.001

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