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Induced automation: evidence from firm-level patent data

Author

Listed:
  • Antoine Dechezleprêtre
  • David Hémous
  • Morten Olsen
  • Carlo Zanella

Abstract

Do higher wages lead to more automation innovation? To answer this question, we first use the frequency of certain keywords in patent text to create a new measure of automation innovation in machinery. We show that our measure is correlated with a reduction in routine tasks in a cross-sectoral analysis in the US. We combine macroeconomic data from 41 countries and information on geographical patent history to build firm-specific measures of low- and high-skill wages. In a firm-level panel analysis, we find that an increase in low-skill wages leads to more automation innovation with an elasticity between 2 and 5. Placebo regressions show that the effect is specific to automation innovations. Finally, we focus on a specific labor market shock, the German Hartz reforms, and show that they reduced automation innovations by those non-German firms relatively more exposed to Germany.

Suggested Citation

  • Antoine Dechezleprêtre & David Hémous & Morten Olsen & Carlo Zanella, 2021. "Induced automation: evidence from firm-level patent data," ECON - Working Papers 384, Department of Economics - University of Zurich.
    • Handle: RePEc:zur:econwp:384
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    File URL: https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/202850/1/econwp384.pdf
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. David Autor & Caroline Chin & Anna Salomons & Bryan Seegmiller, 2024. "New Frontiers: The Origins and Content of New Work, 1940–2018," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 139(3), pages 1399-1465.
    2. Ekaterina Prytkova & Fabien Petit & Deyu Li & Sugat Chaturvedi & Tommaso Ciarli, 2024. "The Employment Impact of Emerging Digital Technologies," CEPEO Working Paper Series 24-01, UCL Centre for Education Policy and Equalising Opportunities, revised Feb 2024.
    3. Alessandra Bonfiglioli & Rosario Crinò & Harald Fadinger & Gino Gancia, 2024. "Robot Imports and Firm-Level Outcomes," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 134(664), pages 3428-3444.
    4. Rik L. Rozendaal & Herman R. J. Vollebergh, 2021. "Policy-Induced Innovation in Clean Technologies: Evidence from the Car Market," CESifo Working Paper Series 9422, CESifo.
    5. Grégoire-Zawilski, Myriam & Popp, David, 2024. "Do technology standards induce innovation in environmental technologies when coordination is important?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(1).
    6. Bergeaud Antonin & Schmidt Julia & Zago Riccardo, 2022. "Patents that Match your Standards: Firm-level Evidence on Competition and Growth," Working papers 876, Banque de France.
    7. Ciccarelli, Matteo & Marotta, Fulvia, 2024. "Demand or Supply? An empirical exploration of the effects of climate change on the macroeconomy," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Automation; innovation; patents; income inequality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • J20 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - General

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