Follow the leader? A field experiment on social influence

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dc.creatorAmbler, Kate
dc.creatorGodlonton, Susan
dc.creatorRecalde, Maria P.
dc.date2019-12-13
dc.date2024-06-21T09:10:18Z
dc.date2024-06-21T09:10:18Z
dc.date.accessioned2026-06-27T14:56:54Z
dc.descriptionWe conduct an artefactual field experiment with farmers in endogenously formed groups in rural Malawi to investigate social influence in risk taking. Our experiment minimizes influence through social learning and social image channels. Treatments vary whether individuals observe the behavior of a formally elected leader, an external leader, or a random peer. Results show that peers are most influential, followed by formal leaders, and then external leaders. Exploratory analysis suggests that farmers follow peers because they extract information from their choices and share risks with them; while other forms of social utility are gained from following the example of leaders.
dc.identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/146999
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/123456789/90265
dc.languageen
dc.publisherWilliams College
dc.relationhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2021.05.022
dc.rightsOpen Access
dc.sourceAmbler, Kate; Godlonton, Susan; and Recalde, Maria P. 2019. Follow the leader? A field experiment on social influence. Williams College Economics Department Working Paper 24. https://web.williams.edu/Economics/wp/FollowTheLeaderAmblerGodlontonRecalde2019September.pdf
dc.subjectfield experimentation
dc.subjectfarmers
dc.subjectagriculture
dc.subjectrisk
dc.titleFollow the leader? A field experiment on social influence
dc.typeWorking Paper

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Instituto Internacional de Investigación sobre Políticas Alimentarias (IFPRI)