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The Risk of Automation in Latin America

Author

Listed:
  • Leonardo Gasparini

    (CEDLAS-IIE-FCE-UNLP & CONICET)

  • Irene Brambilla

    (CEDLAS-IIE-FCE-UNLP & CONICET)

  • Guillermo Falcone

    (CEDLAS-IIE-FCE-UNLP & CONICET)

  • Carlo Lombardo

    (CEDLAS-IIE-FCE-UNLP & CONICET)

  • Andrés César

    (CEDLAS-IIE-FCE-UNLP)

Abstract

In this paper we characterize workers’ vulnerability to automation in the near future in the six largest Latin American economies as a function of the exposure to routinization of the tasks that they perform and the potential automation of their occupation. We combine (i) indicators of potential automatability by occupation and (ii) worker’s information on occupation and other labor variables. We find that the ongoing process of automation is likely to significantly affect the structure of employment. In particular, unskilled and semi-skilled workers are likely to bear a disproportionate share of the adjustment costs. Automation will probably be a more dangerous threat for equality than for overall employment.

Suggested Citation

  • Leonardo Gasparini & Irene Brambilla & Guillermo Falcone & Carlo Lombardo & Andrés César, 2021. "The Risk of Automation in Latin America," CEDLAS, Working Papers 0281, CEDLAS, Universidad Nacional de La Plata.
    • Handle: RePEc:dls:wpaper:0281
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Ramos, Minerva E. & Garza-Rodríguez, Jorge & Gibaja-Romero, Damian E., 2022. "Automation of employment in the presence of industry 4.0: The case of Mexico," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    2. Stemmler, Henry, 2023. "Automated Deindustrialization: How Global Robotization Affects Emerging Economies—Evidence from Brazil," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • 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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