GM vs. Non-GM: A Survival Analysis of U.S. Hybrid Seed Corn

We analyze the rate of survival of hybrid seed corn in the U.S. market between 2000 and 2007 and find that product characteristics and market structures have significant impacts. The results suggest that survival rates depend on spillover effects of learning regarding genetically modified seeds and close substitute seeds and that hybrids planted in the Corn Belt survive longer in the market than hybrids planted in other parts of the country. Given increasing concentration in seed and agricultural biotechnology sectors, our results shed light on factors that affect the survival of hybrid corn seeds under various market conditions.