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Robot adoption and export performance: Firm-level evidence from Spain

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  • Alguacil, Maite
  • Lo Turco, Alessia
  • Martínez-Zarzoso, Inmaculada

Abstract

Export activities are crucial for firm performance. Existing evidence shows that technology adoption is an essential determinant of firm competitiveness. Nevertheless, scarce attention has been devoted to robotisation, a new technology that firms increasingly adopt. We investigate the effect of robot adoption on the intensive and extensive margins of exports of Spanish manufacturing firms over the period 1990–2014. We combine the propensity score matching (PSM) and difference in differences (DID) techniques and find that firms adopting robots experience a sharp increase in their export probability, export sales and share of exports in total output. This result persists after a wide array of robustness checks, including the use of instrumental variables. Robot adoption favours export entry and survival and fosters the export activity of intermediate goods’ producers. The positive impact of robot adoption on exports is driven by its positive effect on firm total factor productivity, product innovation and importing.

Suggested Citation

  • Alguacil, Maite & Lo Turco, Alessia & Martínez-Zarzoso, Inmaculada, 2022. "Robot adoption and export performance: Firm-level evidence from Spain," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecmode:v:114:y:2022:i:c:s0264999322001584
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econmod.2022.105912
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    3. Andrés César, 2025. "The Future of Work(ers) in the Age of Technological Revolution," CEDLAS, Working Papers 0344, CEDLAS, Universidad Nacional de La Plata.
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    6. Zhang, Qi-nan & Zhang, Fan-fan & Mai, Qiang, 2023. "Robot adoption and labor demand: A new interpretation from external competition," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    7. Dolores Añón Higón & Daniel Bonvin, 2024. "Digitalization and trade participation of SMEs," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 62(3), pages 857-877, March.
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    9. Li, Daiyue & Jin, Yanhong & Cheng, Mingwang, 2024. "Unleashing the power of industrial robotics on firm productivity: Evidence from China," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 224(C), pages 500-520.
    10. Qianxiao Zhang & Yixue Duan, 2023. "How Digitalization Shapes Export Product Quality: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-20, April.
    11. Gan, Jiawu & Liu, Lihua & Qiao, Gang & Zhang, Qin, 2023. "The role of robot adoption in green innovation: Evidence from China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    12. Antonioli, Davide & Marzucchi, Alberto & Rentocchini, Francesco & Vannuccini, Simone, 2024. "Robot adoption and product innovation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(6).
    13. Wagner, Joachim, 2024. "Robots and extensive margins of exports: Evidence for manufacturing firms from 27 EU countries," KCG Working Papers 33, Kiel Centre for Globalization (KCG).
    14. Ryota Nakatani, 2024. "Multifactor productivity growth enhancers across industries and countries: firm-level evidence," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 14(2), pages 401-446, June.
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    17. Natália Barbosa, 2024. "Artificial Intelligence and exporting performance:Firm-level evidence from Portugal," GEE Papers 183, Gabinete de Estratégia e Estudos, Ministério da Economia, revised Sep 2024.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Robots; Firm; Exports; Imports; Intensive margin; Extensive margin; PSM; DID;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • O14 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Industrialization; Manufacturing and Service Industries; Choice of Technology
    • 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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