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How Robots Change Within-Firm Wage Inequality

Author

Listed:
  • Barth, Erling

    (Institute for Social Research, Oslo)

  • Roed, Marianne

    (Institute for Social Research, Oslo)

  • Schone, Pal

    (Institute for Social Research, Oslo)

  • Umblijs, Janis

    (Institute for Social Research, Oslo)

Abstract

Using novel matched employer-employee register data with firm-level information on the introduction of industrial robots, this paper analysis the impact of robots on the wages of workers in the manufacturing sector. The results show that industrial robots increase wages for high-skilled workers relative to low-skilled workers, hence robots increases the skill-premium within firms. Furthermore, we find that employees in managerial positions benefit more from robotisation than those in STEM or professional occupations. Overall, our results suggest that the introduction of industrial robots has a positive effect on the average wages of manufacturing workers in Norway.

Suggested Citation

  • Barth, Erling & Roed, Marianne & Schone, Pal & Umblijs, Janis, 2020. "How Robots Change Within-Firm Wage Inequality," IZA Discussion Papers 13605, IZA Network @ LISER.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp13605
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Georgios Petropoulos & David Pichler & Francesco Chiacchio, 2018. "The impact of industrial robots on EU employment and wages- A local labour market approach," Bruegel Working Papers 25186, Bruegel.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J01 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics: General
    • J08 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics Policies
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • E24 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment - - - Employment; Unemployment; Wages; Intergenerational Income Distribution; Aggregate Human Capital; Aggregate Labor Productivity

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