CEO Age and Technology Adoption: Network effects in e-commerce propagation in Japan

Daiji Kawaguchi, Sagiri Kitao and Manabu Nose

Discussion papers from Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI)

Abstract: This study examines how CEO age influences the speed of technology adoption, focusing on e-commerce diffusion during COVID-19. Using unique survey data linked to credit scores and trading networks, we find firms are more likely to adopt e-commerce when their trading partners do, with adoption elasticity rising from 0.27 in 2020 to 0.37 in 2021. However, firms led by older CEOs respond more slowly, with elasticity decreasing by 0.13 to 0.21 for CEOs 10 years above the average. These findings highlight the role of leadership demographics in technology diffusion and firms' adaptability in digital transformation.

Pages: 24 pages
Date: 2025-03
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eti:dpaper:25023

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