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Robot Imports and Firm-Level Outcomes

Author

Listed:
  • Bonfiglioli, Alessandra
  • Crinò, Rosario
  • Fadinger, Harald
  • Gancia, Gino

Abstract

We use French data over the 1994-2013 period to study how imports of industrial robots affect firm-level outcomes. Guided by a simple model, we develop a novel empirical strategy to identify the causal effects of robot adoption. Our results suggest that, while demand shocks generate a positive correlation between robot imports and employment at the firm level, exogenous exposure to automation leads to job losses. We also find that robot exposure increases labour productivity and some evidence that it may raise the relative demand for high-skill professions.

Suggested Citation

  • Bonfiglioli, Alessandra & Crinò, Rosario & Fadinger, Harald & Gancia, Gino, 2022. "Robot Imports and Firm-Level Outcomes," CEPR Discussion Papers 14593, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:14593
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Automation; Displacement; Firms; robots;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • 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
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • D22 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis

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