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Robots, Marriageable Men, Family, and Fertility

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  • Massimo Anelli
  • Osea Giuntella
  • Luca Stella

Abstract

This study examines how the exposure to robots and its heterogeneous effects on the labor market opportunities of men and women affected demographic behavior. We focus on the United States and find that in regions that were more exposed to robots, gender gaps in income and labor force participation declined, reducing the relative economic stature of men. Robot penetration also triggered an increase in both divorce and cohabitation and a decline—albeit nonsignificant—in the number of marriages. While there was no change in the overall fertility rate, marital fertility declined, and there was an increase in nonmarital births.

Suggested Citation

  • Massimo Anelli & Osea Giuntella & Luca Stella, 2024. "Robots, Marriageable Men, Family, and Fertility," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 59(2), pages 443-469.
    • Handle: RePEc:uwp:jhriss:v:59:y:2024:i:2:p:443-469
    Note: DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.1020-11223R1
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    3. Osea Giuntella & Johannes König & Luca Stella, 2023. "Artificial Intelligence and Workers’ Well-being," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 1194, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
    4. Doorley, Karina & Gromadzki, Jan & Lewandowski, Piotr & Tuda, Dora & Van Kerm, Philippe, 2023. "Automation and Income Inequality in Europe," IZA Discussion Papers 16499, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Claudio Costanzo, 2022. "Robots, Jobs, and Optimal Fertility Timing," Working Papers ECARES 2022-36, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    6. Nikolova, Milena & Lepinteur, Anthony & Cnossen, Femke, 2023. "Just Another Cog in the Machine? A Worker-Level View of Robotization and Tasks," IZA Discussion Papers 16610, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    7. Giuntella, Osea & König, Johannes & Stella, Luca, 2023. "Artificial Intelligence and Workers' Well-Being," IZA Discussion Papers 16485, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    8. Hyejin Kim, 2024. "The impact of robots on labor demand: evidence from job vacancy data in South Korea," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 67(3), pages 1185-1209, September.
    9. Albinowski, Maciej & Lewandowski, Piotr, 2024. "The impact of ICT and robots on labour market outcomes of demographic groups in Europe," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    10. Derick Almeida & Tiago Neves Sequeira, 2023. "Fertility choices, Demographics and Automation," CeBER Working Papers 2023-05, Centre for Business and Economics Research (CeBER), University of Coimbra.
    11. Anna Matysiak & Daniela Bellani & Honorata Bogusz, 2023. "Industrial Robots and Regional Fertility in European Countries," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 39(1), pages 1-36, December.
    12. Zhu, Ruini & Yuan, Ye & Wang, Yaojing, 2024. "Love, health, and robots: Automation, migration, and family responses in rural China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    13. Jepsen, Christopher & Jepsen, Lisa, 2022. "Convergence over time or not? U.S. wages by sexual orientation, 2000–2019," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    14. Rezaee Vessal, Sara & De Giovanni, Pietro & Hassanzadeh, Alborz, 2022. "Technology and service investments in the presence of feature fatigue and word-of-mouth," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 301(3), pages 923-941.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure
    • J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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