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Automation and income inequality in Europe

Author

Listed:
  • Karina Doorley
  • Jan Gromadzki
  • Piotr Lewandowski
  • Dora Tuda
  • Philippe Van Kerm

Abstract

We study the effects of robot penetration on household income inequality in 14 European countries between 2006–2018, a period marked by the rapid adoption of industrial robots. We establish that, similarly to the United States, automation reduced relative hourly wages and employment of directly affected demographic groups in Europe. We then use the estimated wage and employment shocks as input to the EUROMOD microsimulation model to assess how robot-driven shocks affected household income inequality. Automation had very small effects on income inequality. Household risk-sharing and tax and welfare policies largely absorbed wage and employment shocks caused by automation.

Suggested Citation

  • Karina Doorley & Jan Gromadzki & Piotr Lewandowski & Dora Tuda & Philippe Van Kerm, 2023. "Automation and income inequality in Europe," IBS Working Papers 06/2023, Instytut Badan Strukturalnych.
    • Handle: RePEc:ibt:wpaper:wp062023
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    robots; automation; tasks; income inequality; wage inequality; microsimulation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand

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