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Automation and the future of work: How rhetoric shapes the response in policy preferences

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  • Jeffrey, Karen

Abstract

I investigate how increasing perceived vulnerability to an automation shock influences redistributive preferences, and how exposure to rhetoric mediates that response. I field a pre-registered survey experiment to 2500 UK residents and find that as perceived vulnerability increases, redistributive preferences remain constant or decline. However, the addition of rhetoric that causes respondents to view automation-induced inequality as unfair increases support for redistributive policies. The effects are pronounced among more-educated respondents - a group expected to increasingly be affected by automation going forward. These findings underscore the need to look beyond automation’s labor market effects to thoroughly understand its political implications.

Suggested Citation

  • Jeffrey, Karen, 2021. "Automation and the future of work: How rhetoric shapes the response in policy preferences," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 192(C), pages 417-433.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:192:y:2021:i:c:p:417-433
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2021.10.019
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    Cited by:

    1. Golin, M. & Rauh, C., 2022. "The Impact of Fear of Automation," Janeway Institute Working Papers 2229, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge.
    2. Mauro Caselli & Andrea Fracasso & Arianna Marcolin & Sergio Scicchitano, 2023. "Technological Innovations and Workers’ Job Insecurity: The Moderating Role of Firm Strategies," CESifo Working Paper Series 10673, CESifo.
    3. Abeliansky, Ana Lucia & Prettner, Klaus, 2023. "Automation and population growth: Theory and cross-country evidence," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 345-358.
    4. Philipp Lergetporer & Katharina Wedel & Katharina Werner, 2023. "Automatability of Occupations, Workers’ Labor-Market Expectations, and Willingness to Train," CESifo Working Paper Series 10862, CESifo.
    5. Lergetporer, Philipp & Wedel, Katharina & Werner, Katharina, 2023. "Automatability of Occupations, Workers' Labor-Market Expectations, and Willingness to Train," IZA Discussion Papers 16687, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. Philipp Lergetporer & Katharina Wedel & Katharina Werner, 2023. "Automatability of Occupations, Workers' Labor-market Expectations, and Willingness to Train," Rationality and Competition Discussion Paper Series 488, CRC TRR 190 Rationality and Competition.
    7. Colombe Ladreit, 2022. "Automation and Public Policy Preferences," BAFFI CAREFIN Working Papers 22191, BAFFI CAREFIN, Centre for Applied Research on International Markets Banking Finance and Regulation, Universita' Bocconi, Milano, Italy.
    8. Arntz, Melanie & Blesse, Sebastian & Doerrenberg, Philipp, 2022. "The end of work is near, isn't it? Survey evidence on automation angst," ZEW Discussion Papers 22-036, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Technological change; Automation; Shocks; Inequality; Redistribution; Rhetoric;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D30 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - General
    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies
    • H24 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Personal Income and Other Nonbusiness Taxes and Subsidies
    • O38 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Government Policy

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