Social learning to reduce pesticides: Evidence from a French agricultural extension programme
研究法国农药削减项目，通过示范日培训农民，发现参与示范日的农场相关群体农药使用减少，表明同伴分享可有效推广且无额外成本。
Abstract Social learning is likely to play a crucial role in disseminating new agricultural technologies and driving the agroecological transition in European countries. We evaluated a French pesticide reduction programme designed to train farmers and promote practices through demonstration days on participating farms. Using pseudo-panel data from surveys conducted before and after the programme’s launch, we found evidence of decreased pesticide use among cohorts linked to farms attending demonstration days. Our analysis, supported by a placebo test and various robustness checks, suggests that peer-sharing in training programmes can scale up effectively at no additional cost.