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Robots and Employment: Evidence from Japan, 1978–2017

Author

Listed:
  • Daisuke Adachi
  • Daiji Kawaguchi
  • Yukiko U. Saito

Abstract

This paper studies the relationship between industrial robots and employment in Japan on the basis of a unique dataset that allows us to calculate the unit price of robots. Our model combines standard factor demand theory with a recent task-based approach to derive a simple estimation equation between robot prices and employment, and our identification strategy leverages heterogeneous applications of robots across industries and heterogeneous price changes across applications. We find that the decline in robot prices increased both the number of robots and employment by raising the productivity and production scale of robot-adopting industries.

Suggested Citation

  • Daisuke Adachi & Daiji Kawaguchi & Yukiko U. Saito, 2024. "Robots and Employment: Evidence from Japan, 1978–2017," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 42(2), pages 591-634.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jlabec:doi:10.1086/723205
    DOI: 10.1086/723205
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    Cited by:

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    2. ADACHI Daisuke, 2024. "Robots and Wage Polarization: The effects of robot capital by occupation," Discussion papers 24066, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    3. Venturini, Francesco, 2022. "Intelligent technologies and productivity spillovers: Evidence from the Fourth Industrial Revolution," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 194(C), pages 220-243.
    4. Oliver Falck & Yuchen Guo & Christina Langer & Valentin Lindlacher & Simon Wiederhold, 2024. "Training, Automation, and Wages: International Worker-Level Evidence," CESifo Working Paper Series 11533, CESifo.
    5. Philippe Aghion & Céline Antonin & Simon Bunel & Xavier Jaravel, 2022. "Modern manufacturing capital, labor demand, and product market dynamics: Evidence from France," SciencePo Working papers Main hal-03943312, HAL.
    6. FUJIWARA Ippei & KIMOTO Ryo & SHIRATSUKA Shigenori & SHIROTA Toyoichiro, 2021. "Measuring Robot Quality: Has Quality Improvement Slowed Down?," Discussion papers 21054, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    7. Raphael Auer & David Köpfer & Josef Sveda, 2024. "The rise of generative AI: modelling exposure, substitution and inequality effects on the US labour market," BIS Working Papers 1207, Bank for International Settlements.
    8. Miyoshi, Koyo, 2024. "The decline in the labor share: Evidence from Japanese manufacturers’ panel data," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    9. Mauro Caselli & Edwin Fourrier-Nicolai & Andrea Fracasso & Sergio Scicchitano, 2024. "Digital Technologies and Firms’ Employment and Training," CESifo Working Paper Series 11056, CESifo.
    10. Lewandowski, Piotr & Szymczak, Wojciech, 2024. "Automation, Trade Unions and Atypical Employment," IZA Discussion Papers 17544, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    11. MORIKAWA Masayuki, 2024. "Use of Artificial Intelligence and Productivity: Evidence from firm and worker surveys," Discussion papers 24074, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    12. Piotr Lewandowski & Wojciech Szymczak, 2024. "Automation, Trade Unions and Involuntary Atypical Employment," IBS Working Papers 02/2024, Instytut Badan Strukturalnych.
    13. MORIKAWA Masayuki, 2024. "Macroeconomic Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Productivity: An estimate from a survey," Discussion papers 24084, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    14. Mauro Caselli & Andrea Fracasso & Sergio Scicchitano & Silvio Traverso & Enrico Tundis, 2021. "Stop worrying and love the robot: An activity-based approach to assess the impact of robotization on employment dynamics," DEM Working Papers 2021/06, Department of Economics and Management.
    15. Klump, Rainer & Jurkat, Anne & Schneider, Florian, 2021. "Tracking the rise of robots: A survey of the IFR database and its applications," MPRA Paper 110390, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    16. ARAI Kosuke & FUJIWARA Ippei & SHIROTA Toyoichiro, 2021. "Robot Penetration and Task Changes," Discussion papers 21093, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).

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