Society & Culture / Sociology / Labor Relations & Labor Process
Why Pakistani Soccer Ball Workers Sabotaged a Game-Changing Technology (And How to Fix It)
Organizational Barriers to Technology Adoption: Evidence from Soccer-Ball Producers in Pakistan
In Pakistan's Sialkot soccer ball cluster, a new cutting die could save 6.76% in material costs and boost profits by over 10%. Yet, when given away for free, adoption was near zero. The culprit? Not money, not information—but a hidden conflict between owners and workers. This video unpacks a groundbreaking study from 2015 that reveals how piece-rate pay creates perverse incentives: workers who master the new die earn less during the learning phase, so they lie to their bosses and block innovation. A simple bonus to workers—equal to one month's pay—skyrocketed adoption by 27-32 points. Discover why technology adoption is never just about the tech, but about aligning interests. Based on research by Atkin, Chaudhry, Chaudry, Khandelwal, and Verhoogen.
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