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Does robotization affect job quality? Evidence from European regional labour markets

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  • Winter-Ebmer, Rudolf
  • Antón, José-Ignacio
  • Fernandez-Macias, Enrique

Abstract

Whereas there are recent papers on the effect of robot adoption on employment and wages, there is no evidence on how robots affect non-monetary working conditions. We explore the impact of robot adoption on several domains of non-monetary working conditions in Europe over the period 1995–2005 combining information from the World Robotics Survey and the European Working Conditions Survey. In order to deal with the possible endogeneity of robot deployment, we employ an instrumental variables strategy, using the robot exposure by sector in other developed countries as an instrument. Our results indicate that robotization has a negative impact on the quality of work in the dimension of work intensity and no relevant impact on the domains of physical environment or skills and discretion.

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  • Winter-Ebmer, Rudolf & Antón, José-Ignacio & Fernandez-Macias, Enrique, 2020. "Does robotization affect job quality? Evidence from European regional labour markets," CEPR Discussion Papers 15586, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:15586
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    1. Janine Berg & Francis Green & Laura Nurski & David A Spencer, 2023. "Risks to job quality from digital technologies: Are industrial relations in Europe ready for the challenge?," European Journal of Industrial Relations, , vol. 29(4), pages 347-365, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Robotization; Working conditions; Job quality; Europe; Regional labour markets;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J81 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Standards - - - Working Conditions
    • 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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