Can an Education Program Be a Substitute for a Regulatory Program That Bans Pesticides? Evidence from a Panel Selection Model
研究利用面板选择模型分析加州杏仁种植者的教育项目对有机磷农药替代的影响，发现该项目显著减少了有机磷使用，表明教育项目可作为有效政策工具。
Governments, nonprofit organizations, and grower groups have expended considerable resources on agricultural extension and education programs, even though the evidence regarding the impact of these programs on farmers’ technology choices and productivity is mixed. Many of the studies finding substantial effects have methodological problems. We control for these methodological problems by using a panel selection model to examine the effect of the Biologically Integrated Orchard Systems program on California almond growers’ replacement of organophosphate pesticides with alternatives considered less environmentally harmful. We find that the program significantly decreased organophosphate use, suggesting that grower education programs can be an effective policy tool.