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Use IT or lose IT?: the impact of computers on earnings

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  • Dolton, Peter
  • Makepeace, Gerry
  • Robinson, Helen

Abstract

The extent to which the impact of computer skills depends on how computers are used is investigated using British data from an establishment survey, cohort studies and the European E-Living survey. We examine the importance of activity and frequency of use in these various data sources. We find that the impact on earnings depends on which cohort of workers is examined and that there are differences over time. The regression results show that the use of computers for internet access and for email is positively significant across all of our datasets, although there are differences in the size of the effects between men and women.

Suggested Citation

  • Dolton, Peter & Makepeace, Gerry & Robinson, Helen, 2007. "Use IT or lose IT?: the impact of computers on earnings," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 19387, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:19387
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    File URL: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/19387/
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Per Krusell & Lee E. Ohanian & JosÈ-Victor RÌos-Rull & Giovanni L. Violante, 2000. "Capital-Skill Complementarity and Inequality: A Macroeconomic Analysis," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 68(5), pages 1029-1054, September.
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    5. David Card & John E. DiNardo, 2002. "Skill-Biased Technological Change and Rising Wage Inequality: Some Problems and Puzzles," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 20(4), pages 733-783, October.
    6. Kevin T. Reilly, 1995. "Human Capital and Information: The Employer Size-Wage Effect," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 30(1), pages 1-18.
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    Cited by:

    1. Giorgio Pietro, 2007. "The effect of computer use on earnings in Italy," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 33(2), pages 245-262, September.
    2. Peter Dolton & Panu Pelkonen, 2008. "The Wage Effects of Computer Use: Evidence from WERS 2004," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 46(4), pages 587-630, December.
    3. Dolton, Peter & Pelkonen, Panu, 2007. "The impact of computer use, computer skills and computer use intensity: evidence from WERS 2004," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 19389, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    4. Cindy Zoghi & Sabrina Wulff Pabilonia, 2007. "Which workers gain upon adopting a computer?," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 40(2), pages 423-444, May.
    5. repec:ebl:ecbull:v:10:y:2007:i:16:p:1-9 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Lissitsa, Sabina & Chachashvili-Bolotin, Svetlana & Bokek-Cohen, Ya'arit, 2017. "Digital skills and extrinsic rewards in late career," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 46-55.
    7. Hsin-Fan Chen & Long-Hwa Chen, 2007. "The role of computer use and English proficiency in gender wage inequality: Taiwanese evidence," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 10(16), pages 1-9.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    ICT;

    JEL classification:

    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials

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