The objective of this paper is to examine empirically the determinants of the joint decision whether or not to adopt a new input and invest in technical knowledge. A log-linear probability model of the joint occurrence or nonoccurrence of adoption and information acquisition is estimated. The results suggest that information acquisition and adoption decisions are made jointly and that the influences of the determinants of adoption and information acquisition differ with the timing of adoption and the channels of information dissemination. Copyright 1993 by MIT Press.

A hstract-This paper develops a model of the decision to adopt interrelated innovations emphasizing the role of innovative ability and a measure of the economic incentive to be informed about innovations. Education, experience, and the availability of information are hypothesized to be measurable dimensions of innovative ability. The results from fitting univariate, conditional, and joint logistic models suggest that innovative ability contributes significantly to explaining the adoption of new technology but does not explain its diffusion. The results also indicate that the diffusion of previously available innovations depends on the introduction and adoption of interrelated current innovations.