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The contribution of robots to productivity growth in 30 OECD countries over 1975–2019

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  • Cette, Gilbert
  • Devillard, Aurélien
  • Spiezia, Vincenzo

Abstract

Using a new and original database, our paper contributes to the growth accounting literature by singling out the contribution of robots through two channels: capital deepening and TFP. The contribution of robots to productivity growth through capital deepening and TFP appears to have been significant in Germany and Japan in the sub-period 1975–1995 and in several Eastern European countries in 2005–2019. However, robotization does not appear to be the source of a significant revival in productivity.

Suggested Citation

  • Cette, Gilbert & Devillard, Aurélien & Spiezia, Vincenzo, 2021. "The contribution of robots to productivity growth in 30 OECD countries over 1975–2019," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:200:y:2021:i:c:s0165176521000392
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2021.109762
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    1. Gordon, Robert J. & Sayed, Hassan, 2020. "Transatlantic Technologies: The Role of ICT in the Evolution of U.S. and European Productivity Growth," CEPR Discussion Papers 15011, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    2. Gilbert Cette & Aurélien Devillard & Vincenzo Spiezia, 2022. "Growth Factors in Developed Countries: A 1960–2019 Growth Accounting Decomposition," Comparative Economic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. 64(2), pages 159-185, June.
    3. Georg Graetz & Guy Michaels, 2018. "Robots at Work," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 100(5), pages 753-768, December.
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    5. Antonin Bergeaud & Gilbert Cette & Rémy Lecat, 2018. "The role of production factor quality and technology diffusion in twentieth-century productivity growth," Cliometrica, Journal of Historical Economics and Econometric History, Association Française de Cliométrie (AFC), vol. 12(1), pages 61-97, January.
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    8. 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.
    9. A. Bergeaud & G. Cette & R. Lecat, 2016. "The role of production factor quality and technology diffusion in 20th century productivity growth," Working papers 588, Banque de France.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Simachev, Yu. & Fedyunina, A. & Gorodny, N., 2022. "Global advanced manufacturing markets - a new opportunity for Russia's technological upgrade," Journal of the New Economic Association, New Economic Association, vol. 53(1), pages 202-212.
    3. Xiekui Zhang & Peiyao Liu & Hongfei Zhu, 2022. "The Impact of Industrial Intelligence on Energy Intensity: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-16, June.
    4. Karim Bekhtiar & Benjamin Bittschi & Richard Sellner, 2021. "Robots at Work?. Pitfalls of Industry Level Data," WIFO Working Papers 639, WIFO.
    5. Gravina, Antonio Francesco & Pappalardo, Maria Rosaria, 2022. "Are robots in rich countries a threat for employment in emerging economies?," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
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    7. Eder, Andreas & Koller, Wolfgang & Mahlberg, Bernhard, 2022. "The contribution of industrial robots to labor productivity growth and economic convergence: A production frontier approach," MPRA Paper 113126, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Battisti, Michele & Gravina, Antonio Francesco, 2021. "Do robots complement or substitute for older workers?," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Growth; Productivity; Robots;
    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
    • O47 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Empirical Studies of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence

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