Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/90616 
Year of Publication: 
2013
Series/Report no.: 
GlobalFood Discussion Papers No. 21
Publisher: 
Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Research Training Group (RTG) 1666 - GlobalFood, Göttingen
Abstract: 
In this study, we experimentally analyze the investment behavior of smallholder farmers in Uganda. We consider a problem of optimal stopping, stylizing an option to invest in a project. We ascertain whether, and to what extent, the real options approach and the classical investment theory can predict farmers’ investment behaviors. We also examine differences in the investment behavior with respect to the presence of a price floor, which is often used to stimulate investments. Furthermore, we look at learning effects. Our results show that both theories do not exactly explain the observed investment behavior. However, our results suggest that real options models better predict the decision behavior of farmers than the classical investment theory. The presence of a price floor and learning from personal experience during the experiment do not significantly affect the investment behavior. However, we find that specific socio-demographic and socio-economic characteristics affect the investment behavior of farmers.
Subjects: 
experimental economics
investment
price floors
real options
Uganda
JEL: 
C91
D03
D81
D92
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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