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The influence of industrial robots on firm-level pollution emissions: Evidence from China

Author

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  • Qi, Jianhong
  • Tan, Yong
  • Zhang, Zhitong

Abstract

Industrial robots are crucial in the production process, but limited literature uncovers the comprehensive channels through which they affect firms’ emissions. This paper investigates the influence of industrial robots on firm-level emissions and emissions-intensity. Using comprehensive firm-level SO2 emissions and robot import data in China during 2000–2013, we find that the robot-adoption manifests a negative effect on both firm-level emissions and emissions-intensity. Meanwhile, this reduction effect exhibits an increasing dynamic effect. Furthermore, the mechanism analysis indicates that improving abatement efficiency, increasing the share of intermediate inputs, and reducing SO2 generations per output contribute 43.25%, 22.81%, and 17.54%, respectively to the reduction effect. Finally, the counterfactual analysis implies that shutting off the abatement efficiency, share of intermediate inputs, and SO2 generation channels, will lower the reduction effect of robots on emissions by 4.83%, 2.85% and 1.96%, respectively.

Suggested Citation

  • Qi, Jianhong & Tan, Yong & Zhang, Zhitong, 2024. "The influence of industrial robots on firm-level pollution emissions: Evidence from China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecmode:v:133:y:2024:i:c:s0264999324000427
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econmod.2024.106686
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    Cited by:

    1. Han, Wang-Zhe & Zhang, Yi-Ming, 2024. "Carbon reduction effect of industrial robots: Breaking the impasse for carbon emissions and development," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 3(3).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    industrial robots; Firm-level emissions; Dynamic effect; Working mechanisms;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth

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