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The impact of robots on labour productivity: A panel data approach covering 9 industries and 12 countries

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Abstract

Based on the expectation that the intensified use of robots contributes to the growth of labour productivity, this paper presents estimates of Cobb-Douglas production functions, using data for 12 EU countries and 9 manufacturing industries. The empirical results for the models pooling all available data confirm that stocks of robots per 1 million Euros non-ICT capital input contribute significantly to labour productivity growth in the period from 1995 to 2015. The results remain robust, when the whole observation period is split into two subsamples from 1995 to 2007 and from 2008 to 2015. Furthermore, the model is used to assess the impact of an increase of robots use on the labour productivity in each of the 9 manufacturing industries considered.

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  • Andre Jungmittag & Annarosa Pesole, 2019. "The impact of robots on labour productivity: A panel data approach covering 9 industries and 12 countries," JRC Working Papers on Labour, Education and Technology 2019-08, Joint Research Centre.
  • Handle: RePEc:ipt:laedte:201908
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    Cited by:

    1. Saam Marianne, 2024. "The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Productivity and Employment – How Can We Assess It and What Can We Observe?," Intereconomics: Review of European Economic Policy, Sciendo, vol. 59(1), pages 22-27, February.
    2. Fernández-Macías, Enrique & Klenert, David & Antón, José-Ignacio, 2021. "Not so disruptive yet? Characteristics, distribution and determinants of robots in Europe," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 76-89.
    3. Antón, José-Ignacio & Fernández-Macías, Enrique & Winter-Ebmer, Rudolf, 2020. "Does Robotization Affect Job Quality? Evidence from European Regional Labour Markets," IZA Discussion Papers 13975, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    4. Zoltan Csefalvay & Petros Gkotsis, 2020. "Global race for robotisation - Looking at the entire robotisation chain," JRC Research Reports JRC121184, Joint Research Centre.
    5. 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.
    6. Septimiu Szabo, 2020. "Transition to Industry 4.0 in the Visegrád Countries," European Economy - Economic Briefs 052, Directorate General Economic and Financial Affairs (DG ECFIN), European Commission.
    7. MARSCHINSKI Robert & DE AMORES HERNANDEZ Antonio & AMOROSO Sara & BAUER Peter & CARDANI Roberta & CSEFALVAY Zoltan & GENTY Aurelien & GKOTSIS Petros & GREGORI Wildmer & GRASSANO Nicola & HERNANDEZ GUE, 2021. "EU competitiveness: recent trends, drivers, and links to economic policy: A Synthesis Report," JRC Research Reports JRC123232, Joint Research Centre.
    8. Andre Jungmittag, 2021. "Robotisation of the manufacturing industries in the EU: Convergence or divergence?," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 46(5), pages 1269-1290, October.

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    Keywords

    Automation; labour productivity; panel data; production function; productivity measurement; robots;
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