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Diffusion of information technology, internet use and the demand of heterogeneous labor

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  • Falk, Martin

Abstract

This paper analyzes the link between the diffusion of information- and communication technology (ICT) and both the skill structure and employment expectations of the different skill categories. The analysis is based on cross-sectional data for 4150 German firms conducted in mid-2000. The penetration of ICT is measured as the percentage of workers using a computer on the job for at least half of the working time, the number of computers per worker, percentage of workers with internet access, as well as the use of software applications such as ERP, CAD/CAE and database management systems. The empirical evidence indicates that firms with a higher diffusion of ICT employ a larger fraction of workers with a university degree as well as ICT specialists. Conversely, a greater ICT penetration is significantly negatively related to the share of both medium-skilled and unskilled workers. To account for censoring in the employment shares, the empirical analysis uses Powell?s (1984) Censored Least Absolute Deviations estimator (CLAD). Furthermore, results of ordered probit models show that employment expectations for workers with a university degree are positively related to the degree of ICT penetration.

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  • Falk, Martin, 2001. "Diffusion of information technology, internet use and the demand of heterogeneous labor," ZEW Discussion Papers 01-48, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:zewdip:5402
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    Cited by:

    1. Fitzenberger, Bernd & Hübler, Olaf & Kraft, Kornelius, 2008. "Flexibilisierungspotenziale bei heterogenen Arbeitsmärkten : eine Einführung (Potentials for increasing flexibility in heterogeneous labour markets : an introduction)," Zeitschrift für ArbeitsmarktForschung - Journal for Labour Market Research, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany], vol. 41(2/3), pages 95-116.
    2. Spitz, Alexandra, 2004. "Are Skill Requirements in the Workplace Rising? Stylized Facts and Evidence on Skill-Biased Technological Change," ZEW Discussion Papers 04-33, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    3. Simon Commander & Janos Kollo, 2008. "The changing demand for skills Evidence from the transition1," The Economics of Transition, The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, vol. 16(2), pages 199-221, April.
    4. Fitzenberger, Bernd & Hübler, Olaf & Kraft, Kornelius, 2008. "Flexibilisierungspotenziale bei heterogenen Arbeitsmärkten : eine Einführung (Potentials for increasing flexibility in heterogeneous labour markets : an introduction)," Zeitschrift für ArbeitsmarktForschung - Journal for Labour Market Research, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany], vol. 41(2/3), pages 95-116.
    5. Fitzenberger, Bernd & Hübler, Olaf & Kraft, Kornelius, 2008. "Flexibilisierungspotenziale bei heterogenen Arbeitsmärkten : eine Einführung (Potentials for increasing flexibility in heterogeneous labour markets : an introduction)," Zeitschrift für ArbeitsmarktForschung - Journal for Labour Market Research, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany], vol. 41(2/3), pages 95-116.
    6. Michael Mesch, 2007. "Die Berufsstruktur der Beschäftigung in Wien 1991-2001," Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft - WuG, Kammer für Arbeiter und Angestellte für Wien, Abteilung Wirtschaftswissenschaft und Statistik, vol. 33(1), pages 41-72.
    7. Spitz, Alexandra, 2003. "IT Capital, Job Content and Educational Attainment," ZEW Discussion Papers 03-04, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    8. Riccardo LUCCHETTI & Alessandro STERLACCHINI, 2001. "Factors Affecting the Adoption of ICTs Among SMEs: Evidence From an Italian Survey," Working Papers 155, Universita' Politecnica delle Marche (I), Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche e Sociali.
    9. Hollenstein, Heinz, 2004. "Determinants of the adoption of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT): An empirical analysis based on firm-level data for the Swiss business sector," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 15(3), pages 315-342, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    diffusion of information technology; labor demand; skill structure; censored regression model;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L80 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - General
    • 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
    • C24 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Truncated and Censored Models; Switching Regression Models; Threshold Regression Models

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