The role of opinion leaders in the diffusion of new knowledge: the case of integrated pest management

Gershon Feder and Sara Savastano

No 3916, Policy Research Working Paper Series from The World Bank

Abstract: The paper reviews the literature on the characteristics and impact of opinion leaders on the diffusion of new knowledge, concluding that there is no clear evidence on whether opinion leaders are more effective if they are similar in socioeconomic attributes to the other farmers rather than superior to would be followers. A multivariate analysis of the changes in integrated pest management knowledge in Indonesia among follower farmers over the period 1991-98 indicates that opinion leaders who are superior to followers, but not excessively so, are more effective in transmitting knowledge. Excessive socioeconomic distance is shown to reduce the effectiveness of diffusion. The paper then derives operational implications of the empirical results.

Keywords: Agricultural Knowledge&Information Systems; Rural Development Knowledge&Information Systems; Primary Education; ICT Policy and Strategies; Education For All (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2006-05-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr and nep-soc
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (39)

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Journal Article: The role of opinion leaders in the diffusion of new knowledge: The case of integrated pest management (2006)
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