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Electricity Use of Automation or How to Tax Robots?

Author

Listed:
  • Emanuel Gasteiger
  • Michael Kuhn
  • Matthias Mistlbacher
  • Klaus Prettner

Abstract

While automation technologies replace workers in ever more tasks, robots, 3D‐printers, and AI require substantial amounts of electricity. How are automation technologies affected by the price of electricity, and how do robot taxes and electricity taxes affect their adoption? To answer these questions, we generalize a standard economic growth model to incorporate automation and electricity use. In addition, we augment the model with electricity taxes and robot taxes and show the mechanisms by which these taxes affect automation. We find that an electricity tax—that is comparatively easy to implement—can serve a similar purpose as a robot tax.

Suggested Citation

  • Emanuel Gasteiger & Michael Kuhn & Matthias Mistlbacher & Klaus Prettner, 2026. "Electricity Use of Automation or How to Tax Robots?," Scottish Journal of Political Economy, Scottish Economic Society, vol. 73(1), February.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:scotjp:v:73:y:2026:i:1:n:e70032
    DOI: 10.1111/sjpe.70032
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    JEL classification:

    • O11 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Macroeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O14 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Industrialization; Manufacturing and Service Industries; Choice of Technology
    • H21 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Efficiency; Optimal Taxation
    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies

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