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Robot Adoption at German Plants

Author

Listed:
  • Deng Liuchun

    (Social Sciences Division, Yale-NUS College, 16 #01-220, College Ave West, 138527, Singapore, Singapore)

  • Plümpe Verena

    (Department of Structural Change and Productivity, Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH), Kleine Maerkerstrasse 8, 06108 Halle (Saale), Germany)

  • Stegmaier Jens

    (Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Regensburger Str. 104, 90478 Nuremberg, Germany)

Abstract

Using a newly collected dataset at the plant level from 2014 to 2018, we provide the first microscopic portrait of robotization in Germany and study the correlates of robot adoption. Our descriptive analysis uncovers five stylized facts: (1) Robot use is relatively rare. (2) The distribution of robots is highly skewed. (3) New robot adopters contribute substantially to the recent robotization. (4) Robot users are exceptional. (5) Heterogeneity in robot types matters. Our regression results further suggest plant size, high-skilled labor share, exporter status, and labor shortage to be strongly associated with the future probability of robot adoption.

Suggested Citation

  • Deng Liuchun & Plümpe Verena & Stegmaier Jens, 2024. "Robot Adoption at German Plants," Journal of Economics and Statistics (Jahrbuecher fuer Nationaloekonomie und Statistik), De Gruyter, vol. 244(3), pages 201-235, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:jns:jbstat:v:244:y:2024:i:3:p:201-235:n:1
    DOI: 10.1515/jbnst-2022-0073
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Joachim Wagner, 2024. "Cloud Computing and Extensive Margins of Exports - Evidence for Manufacturing Firms from 27 EU Countries," Working Paper Series in Economics 427, University of Lüneburg, Institute of Economics.
    2. 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).
    3. Joachim Wagner, 2024. "Digitalization Intensity and Extensive Margins of Exports in Manufacturing Firms from 27 EU Countries - Evidence from Kernel-Regularized Least Squares Regression," Working Paper Series in Economics 428, University of Lüneburg, Institute of Economics.
    4. Joachim Wagner, 2024. "Robots and Extensive Margins of Exports - Evidence for Manufacturing Firms from 27 EU Countries," Working Paper Series in Economics 426, University of Lüneburg, Institute of Economics.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Robots; robot adoption; automation; labor; productivity; plant-level;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • 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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