SPRAYED TO DEATH - PATH DEPENDENCE, LOCK-IN AND PEST-CONTROL STRATEGIES

Theoretical literature on the economics of technology has emphasised t he effects on technological trajectories of positive feedbacks. In a c ompetition among technologies that all perform a similar function, the presence of increasing returns to adoption can force all but one tech nology from the market. Furthermore, the victor need not be the superi or technology. This paper provides an empirical study of one technolog ical competition which illuminates this theoretical work. It uses theo retical results to explain why chemical control of agricultural pests remains the dominant technology in spite of many claims that it is inf erior to its main competitor, integrated pest management.