Diffusion of innovations

About: Diffusion of innovations is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 2139 publications have been published within this topic receiving 191397 citations. The topic is also known as: diffusion of innovation & diffusion of innovations theory.

Long-Term Barriers to the International Diffusion of Innovations

Abstract: We document an empirical relationship between the cross-country adoption of technologies and the degree of long-term historical relatedness between human populations. Historical relatedness is measured using genetic distance, a measure of the time since two populations’ last common ancestors. We find that the measure of human relatedness that is relevant to explain international technology diffusion is genetic distance relative to the world technological frontier (“relative frontier distance”). This evidence is consistent with long-term historical relatedness acting as a barrier to technology adoption: societies that are more distant from the technological frontier tend to face higher imitation costs. The results can help explain current differences in total factor productivity and income per capita across countries.

Social networks and technology adoption in small business

Abstract: Many extant studies seek to explore the technology adoption characteristics of small firms. Given the importance of technology to firm success, understanding the determinants of technology adoption and its subsequent diffusion is the prevailing theme in much of the extant literature on small business. However, few studies investigate the impact of social networks on technology adoption in small firms. As small business owners are often part of a dynamic network of other business owners and suppliers, among others, it is likely that the business owner's decision to adopt various technologies will be influenced by their networks. In this study, we build on and draw from the work of various researchers such as Rogers' Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) theory, Davis' Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Bandiera and Rasul's work on the influence of network type and Abrahamson and Rosenkopf's research on network density to construct our parsimonious model. The conceptual model presented integrates key adoption attributes (i.e. organisational readiness, compatibility, Perceived Usefulness (PU), Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU) and top management support) with that of social network concepts (i.e. extra-firm networks, network density and network type) to determine their relationship with technology adoption.

Social networks and the diffusion of fertility control in the Republic of Korea.

Abstract: In this chapter we specify a social learning perspective in which individuals draw upon peers reference groups and others in an effort to clarify the costs and benefits of new and innovative reproductive strategies. This social learning perspective is a fundamental and perhaps the defining feature of models of ideational change and diffusion of innovations l Diffusion need not play the dominant role in fertility decisions; rather we argue that it will often reinforce the effects of conventional social or economic determinants and serve to amplify their influence over time and across social groups. We will use statistical methods appropriate to diffusion models to test for interpersonal diffusion in a sample of rural villages in the Republic of Korea in 1973. The tests are made possible by information rarely encountered in demographic work: social network data measured at the individual level. We first describe the various fertility-related networks in which rural Korean women participate and examine the overlaps and points of contact among the networks. We then ask whether the social network variables exert any independent influence on individual contraceptive use net of the effects of other socio-economic factors. (excerpt)