Role of Social Reward on Diffusion of Pro-environmental Behaviors in Agriculture: A Field Experiment in Vietnam

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K22123
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0107:Economics, business administration, and related fields
• Research Institution: Hiroshima University
• Principal Investigator: VU HATHU 広島大学, 人間社会科学研究科(国), 助教 (30882005)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: Spillover effect / RCT / crop insurance / subsidy / Vietnam

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The initial objective of this research was to evaluate the impact of rewards on farmers' adoption of organic fertilizer. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation at the study site, the objective was modified to investigate the spillover effects of subsidies on farmers’ uptake of crop insurance. To attain the research objective, I conducted a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) with famers in 44 Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs)-a form of autonomous microcredit groups in Vietnam.
Regarding research achievements, I successfully published two papers at "World Development" and "Economic Analysis and Policy" respectively (SSCI journals, Q1 in Economics). I presented at the 60th and 62nd Western Regional Science Association Annual Meeting. I was invited to present the research at Social Science Japan Data Archive Seminar (SSJDA, University of Tokyo), Asian Economic Development Seminar (Kyoto University) and the JADE/GRIPS Development Seminar.

Free Research Field

Development Economics

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

This research provides original evidence about spillover effect from subsidized farmers to other farmers in the networks. Consequently, it contributes to knowledge of applying insights from social networks in encouraging farmers to adopt new technologies. This research targets ethnic minority women.