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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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    5. 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.
    6. 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.
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    8. 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.
    9. Jeffrey, Karen & Matakos, Konstantinos, 2024. "Automation anxiety, fairness perceptions, and redistribution: Past experiences condition the response to future job loss," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 221(C), pages 174-190.
    10. Mauro Caselli & Andrea Fracasso & Arianna Marcolin & Sergio Scicchitano, 2025. "Technological innovations and workers’ job insecurity: the moderating role of human resource strategies," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 52(1), pages 153-176, March.
    11. 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.
    12. Vili Lehdonvirta & Lulu P Shi & Ekaterina Hertog & Nobuko Nagase & Yuji Ohta, 2023. "The future(s) of unpaid work: How susceptible do experts from different backgrounds think the domestic sphere is to automation?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(2), pages 1-16, February.
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    14. Gorny, Paul M. & Groos, Eva & Strobel, Christina, 2024. "Do Personalized AI Predictions Change Subsequent Decision-Outcomes? The Impact of Human Oversight," MPRA Paper 121065, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    15. Golin, M. & Rauh, C., 2022. "The Impact of Fear of Automation," Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 2269, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge.

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    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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