Human Capital, Adjustments in Subjective Probabilities, and the Demand for Pest Controls
研究人力资本如何通过改善农民对害虫损害概率的主观估计，降低农药使用并增加劳动密集型防治措施，对农业政策制定者和推广人员有参考价值。
Abstract In addition to risk aversion, farmer behavior in an uncertain environment is governed by subjective probability estimates of random events. The estimates given here lend support to the idea that human capital development can improve farmers' ability to estimate pest damage probabilities. More accurate assessment of subjective probabilities leads to lower pesticide use and increases the use of labor‐intensive pest controls. The human capital variables with the largest effects are formal schooling and farmer experience, with smaller impacts from field scouting and extension schools.