We shed light on Florida citrus growers’ decisions regarding their adoption of scientifically untested antibiotic sprays over insecticide spray coordination for dealing with the devastating impact of a pernicious plant disease. Using data from a framed field economic experiment, we examine growers’ preferences towards two types of uncertain outcomes, the first resulting from a game against nature and the second involving strategic interaction. We find evidence that, on average, growers prefer the game against nature. Moreover, we find that they prefer such a game even for ranges over which the game involving strategic interaction has a higher likelihood of success. The results and insights we obtain help better understand growers’ preferences over different types of uncertainty, which can play a key role in their technology adoption decisions. Our findings should be useful for policymakers to realise the implications of allowing the use of uncertain technologies and the detrimental impact they can have in dealing with issues that involve externalities such as those present in pest and disease management.

中文翻译：

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不确定性的来源影响技术采用

我们阐明了佛罗里达柑橘种植者关于采用未经科学测试的抗生素喷洒而不是杀虫剂喷洒协调以应对有害植物病害的破坏性影响的决定。我们使用来自框架实地经济实验的数据，检查种植者对两种不确定结果的偏好，第一种来自与自然的博弈，第二种涉及战略互动。我们发现证据表明，平均而言，种植者更喜欢与自然对抗的游戏。此外，我们发现他们更喜欢这样的游戏，即使在涉及战略互动的游戏更有可能成功的范围内也是如此。我们获得的结果和见解有助于更好地了解种植者对不同类型不确定性的偏好，这可以在他们的技术采用决策中发挥关键作用。