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Robotization and returns to tasks

Author

Listed:
  • Lucas Parmentier

    (University of La Réunion)

Abstract

I provide new evidence of the impacts of robotization on the returns to tasks in US labor markets between 1990 and 2007. I find that the adoption of one robot per thousand workers increases the changes in the returns to abstract and routine tasks by 0.049 and 0.066 percentage points, respectively, relative to manual tasks. These magnitudes imply that the adoption of one robot per thousand workers has substantial effects on wages since it increases wages by 1.70% due to the positive impact of robotization on the returns to abstract tasks, and by 3.76% due to the positive effects on the returns to routine tasks. The results are robust to various specifications.

Suggested Citation

  • Lucas Parmentier, 2024. "Robotization and returns to tasks," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 44(4), pages 1545-1551.
    • Handle: RePEc:ebl:ecbull:eb-24-00226
    as

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    File URL: http://www.accessecon.com/Pubs/EB/2024/Volume44/EB-24-V44-I4-P123.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. David H. Autor & Frank Levy & Richard J. Murnane, 2003. "The Skill Content of Recent Technological Change: An Empirical Exploration," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 118(4), pages 1279-1333.
    2. David H. Autor & Michael J. Handel, 2013. "Putting Tasks to the Test: Human Capital, Job Tasks, and Wages," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 31(S1), pages 59-96.
    3. Daron Acemoglu & Pascual Restrepo, 2020. "Robots and Jobs: Evidence from US Labor Markets," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 128(6), pages 2188-2244.
    4. David J. Deming, 2017. "The Growing Importance of Social Skills in the Labor Market," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 132(4), pages 1593-1640.
    5. Daron Acemoglu & Claire Lelarge & Pascual Restrepo, 2020. "Competing with Robots: Firm-Level Evidence from France," AEA Papers and Proceedings, American Economic Association, vol. 110, pages 383-388, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    JEL classification:

    • J3 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs

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