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Which firms benefit from robot adoption? Evidence from China

Author

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  • Huang, Keqi
  • Liu, Qiren
  • Tang, Chengjian

Abstract

This paper investigates which firms benefit from robot adoption in a developing open economy such as China. First, we construct a unique comprehensive dataset to identify robot adoption in Chinese industrial firms. Second, we adopt difference-in-differences to provide empirical analysis after conducting the common trends tests. Third, we find that adopting robots significantly increases a series of firm performance indicators in robot adoption firms. Compared with adopting firms in the labor-intensive sector, firms in the capital-intensive sector significantly benefit from robot adoption in a series of firm performance indicators, e.g., employment, capital stock, output, total factor productivity, capital returns, and exports. Finally, we check the robustness, investigate the dynamic effects, and find persistent positive effects. Our findings shed some light on the impacts of robot adoption in developing and transition countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Huang, Keqi & Liu, Qiren & Tang, Chengjian, 2023. "Which firms benefit from robot adoption? Evidence from China," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:asieco:v:86:y:2023:i:c:s1049007823000325
    DOI: 10.1016/j.asieco.2023.101612
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Zhang, Yi & Wang, Ting & Liu, Chun, 2024. "Beyond the modern productivity paradox: The effect of robotics technology on firm-level total factor productivity in China," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    2. Tang, Yuwei & He, Zhenyu, 2024. "Extreme heat and firms' robot adoption: Evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    3. Huang, Keqi & Liu, Qiren, 2024. "Artificial intelligence and outward foreign direct investment: Evidence from China," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Industrial robots; Capital-intensive sector; Labor-intensive sector; Difference-in-differences; Firm performance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • H32 - Public Economics - - Fiscal Policies and Behavior of Economic Agents - - - Firm
    • J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand
    • L25 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Firm Performance
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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