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on Technology and Industrial Dynamics |
| By: | Boschma, Ron; Hernández-Rodríguez, Eduardo; Morrison, Andrea; Pietrobelli, Carlo (RS: GSBE other - not theme-related research, Mt Economic Research Inst on Innov/Techn) |
| Abstract: | This paper combines insights from the literatures on Global Value Chains (GVC), Economic Complexity and Evolutionary Economic Geography to assess the role of GVC participation and regional capabilities in fostering economic complexity in EU NUTS-2 regions. Our results suggest there is no such thing as a common path towards economic complexity across EU regions. Low-income regions manage to benefit from both regional capabilities and GVC participation. In contrast, high-income regions rely more on their existing local capabilities rather than on GVC participation. |
| JEL: | B52 F23 O19 O33 R10 |
| Date: | 2025–01–29 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:unm:unumer:2025002 |
| By: | Marydas, Sneha (RS: GSBE MGSoG, Maastricht Graduate School of Governance); Mathew, Nanditha (Maastricht Graduate School of Governance, RS: GSBE MORSE, RS: GSBE MGSoG); De Marzo, Giordano; Pietrobelli, Carlo (RS: GSBE other - not theme-related research, Mt Economic Research Inst on Innov/Techn) |
| Abstract: | In this study, using a novel dataset that matches firm-level data with online job vacancy data, we investigate the effects of firms’ digital technology adoption on future hiring and the dynamics of hiring and training, focusing on different types of technologies and categories of occupations. First, we examine the impact of adopting different types of digital technologies, namely AI, Advanced ICT, and Basic ICT, on future firm hiring. Our findings reveal that less advanced digital jobs (eg. Basic ICT, Advanced ICT) are substituted by more advanced digital jobs (eg. AI), while the advanced technology adoption by firms leads to increased overall hiring of non-digital roles. Second, we show that there is a positive relationship between training and new hiring only for one occupational category, namely, managers, with no significant relationship for other occupations. Third, we investigate the joint effect of training and technology adoption for firm performance. Our findings reveal that digital technology adoption enhances a firm’s financial performance only when combined with internal staff training. The sole exception is AI, which yields positive performance benefits even in the absence of training. |
| JEL: | O33 O12 L20 D22 |
| Date: | 2025–02–07 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:unm:unumer:2025004 |
| By: | Marco De Simone; Dario Guarascio; Jelena Reljic |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the impact of robotisation on workplace safety in EU manufacturing sectors between 2011 and 2019. To address endogeneity concerns, we employ an instrumental variable approach and find that robot adoption reduces both injuries and fatalities. Specifically, a 10% increase in robot adoption is associated with a 0.066% reduction in fatalities and a 1.96% decrease in injuries. Our findings highlight the context-dependent nature of these effects. The safety benefits of robotisation materialise only in high-tech sectors and in countries where industrial relations provide strong worker protections. In contrast, in traditional industries and countries with weaker institutional frameworks, these benefits remain largely unrealised. The results are robust to several sensitivity tests. |
| Keywords: | EU, robotisation, technology, workplace safety, injuries, fatalities, industrial relations |
| Date: | 2025–02–11 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ssa:lemwps:2025/03 |
| By: | Honorata Bogusz (University of Warsaw, Faculty of Economic Sciences); Daniela Bellani (Università Cattolica, Milano) |
| Abstract: | In the 21st century, advancements in technologies such as industrial robots have raised concerns about their impact on employment and wages, prompting extensive research. However, their effects on workers’ subjective well-being remain underexplored. This study addresses this gap ¬by examining whether workers experience a decline in well-being due to a loss of agency or maintain it by leveraging human skills to adapt to automation. Using data from the International Federation of Robotics, Eurostat, and the European Social Survey (2002–2018), we link robot density at the country-industry-year level to workers’ life satisfaction, happiness, job influence, and health. Employing an instrumental variables approach, we find that robot adoption negatively affects medium-educated workers’ well-being, particularly its eudaimonic dimension, supporting the decreasing agency thesis. In contrast, low- and highly educated workers experience positive effects. These impacts are more pronounced among women and weaker in countries with robust compensatory social policies. |
| Keywords: | industrial robots, well-being, life satisfaction, Europe, education |
| JEL: | I31 O33 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:war:wpaper:2025-01 |
| By: | Vivarelli, Marco; Arenas Díaz, Guillermo |
| Abstract: | The relationship between technology and employment has long been a topic of debate. This issue is even more pertinent today as the global economy undergoes a technological revolution driven by automation and the widespread adoption of Artificial Intelligence. The primary objective of this paper is to provide insights into the relationship between innovation and employment by proposing a conceptual framework and by discussing the state of the art of the debates and analyses surrounding this topic. |
| Keywords: | Technology, employment, compensation theory, AI, robot |
| JEL: | O33 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:glodps:1565 |
| By: | David Dekker; Dimitirs Christopoulos; Heather McGregor |
| Abstract: | We explore a dynamic patent citation network model to explain the established link between network structure and technological improvement rate. This model, a type of survival model, posits that the *dynamic* network structure determines the *constant* improvement rate, requiring consistent structural reproduction over time. The model's hazard rate, the probability of a patent being cited, represents "knowledge production, " reflecting the output of new patents given existing ones. Analyzing hydrogen technology patents, we find distinct subdomain knowledge production rates, but consistent development across subdomains. "Distribution" patents show the lowest production rate, suggesting dominant "distribution" costs in $H_2$ pricing. Further modeling shows Katz-centrality predicts knowledge production, outperforming subdomain classification. Lower Katz centrality in "distribution" suggests inherent organizational differences in invention. Exploitative learning (within-subdomain citations) correlates with higher patenting opportunity costs, potentially explaining slower "distribution" development, as high investment needs may incentivize monopolization over knowledge sharing. |
| Date: | 2025–02 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:arx:papers:2502.00797 |
| By: | Mohnen, Pierre (RS: GSBE other - not theme-related research, QE Econometrics); Mairesse, Jacques (Quantitative Economics); Notten, Ad (Mt Economic Research Inst on Innov/Techn) |
| Abstract: | This paper reviews the empirical work that has been done over the period 2013-2023 on the topic of innovation and productivity. A visual graph based on keywords shows the main areas that have been investigated. The literature review is organized around the way the link between innovation and productivity has been analyzed, the data that have been used, and the evidence that has been obtained. The paper ends with suggestions of future research on the topic. |
| JEL: | D24 O30 O31 O32 |
| Date: | 2025–02–03 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:unm:unumer:2025003 |
| By: | Jing Yuan (School of Statistics, Shandong Technology and Business University, Yantai, Shandong 264005, China); Teng Ma; Yinghui Wang (School of Statistics, Shandong Technology and Business University, Yantai, Shandong 264005, China); Jinxin Cao (School of Statistics, Shandong Technology and Business University, Yantai, Shandong 264005, China); Zongwu Cai (Department of Economics, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA) |
| Abstract: | Using the Chinese CFPS database, this paper analyzes the impact of AI on occupational income inequality in China by using the Pareto coefficient. The empirical results show that AI has significantly widened the occupational income gap in China in recent years. Also, using results based on the mediation effect test concludes that AI widens the income gap significantly through the upgrading of the industrial structure and technological innovation. Furthermore, the analysis of regional heterogeneity reveals that the impact of AI on occupational income inequality is strongest in the northeastern region, followed by the western region, while the impacts in the central and eastern regions are relatively smaller. Finally, our analysis suggests that China should strengthen the supervision and adjustment mechanism of occupational income, establish a monitoring system for occupational income, and deepen the reform of the income distribution system, among other measures, to narrow the occupational income gap caused by the skill premium. |
| Keywords: | Artificial intelligence; Industrial structure; Mediation analysis; Occupational income inequality; Regional heterogeneity; Technological innovation. |
| JEL: | D31 D33 E25 O30 |
| Date: | 2025–02 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:kan:wpaper:202504 |
| By: | Labhard, Vincent; Lehtimäki, Jonne |
| Abstract: | Climate change is a global-scale structural change, affecting economies across the world, alongside global fragmentation, digitalisation and demographics. This paper analyses the diffusion of climate policies and technologies and the role of institutions and governance in that process. It discusses theory, models and data available to date, and the empirical evidence for the 20 European Union and all 40 countries covered by the OECD’s Environmental Policy Stringency index. The results indicate that institutions and governance have significant effects towards a greater speed and spread of diffusion of climate policies and technologies, and that separating the speed and spread effects is essential for assessing the green transition. JEL Classification: E02, O11, Q20, Q55, Q58 |
| Keywords: | adaptation, mitigation, renewability, sustainability, transition |
| Date: | 2025–02 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ecb:ecbwps:20253027 |
| By: | Francesco Lamperti; Elisa Palagi; Tommaso Perniola |
| Abstract: | Does a more unequal society emit more CO2? The nexus between carbon emissions and income inequality has been at the core of a vast literature, which has yielded conflicting results. Leveraging panel econometric techniques, we provide robust evidence of a non-linear relationship that depends on the structural composition of the economy. Specifically, we document a positive association between income inequality, measured with five different indicators, and per capita carbon emissions in highly tertiarized countries. In contrast, the relationship in non-service-intensive economies turns negative. We provide evidence for plausible mechanisms mediating this non-linear association: the carbon footprint of the richest individuals -particularly when linked to investment- and the employment share in industry are key factors underlying the observed patterns. Our results point to the stage of "development" as a crucial factor shaping the emission-inequality nexus. Indeed, it helps identify countries for which fighting inequality comes with climate-related benefits. |
| Keywords: | income inequality, climate change, emissions, carbon, mitigation |
| Date: | 2025–02–12 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ssa:lemwps:2025/04 |
| By: | Lionel Fontagné (CES - Centre d'économie de la Sorbonne - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, CEPII - Centre d'Etudes Prospectives et d'Informations Internationales - Centre d'analyse stratégique); Ariell Reshef (PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, CEPII - Centre d'Etudes Prospectives et d'Informations Internationales - Centre d'analyse stratégique, CES - Centre d'économie de la Sorbonne - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique); Gianluca Santoni (CEPII - Centre d'Etudes Prospectives et d'Informations Internationales - Centre d'analyse stratégique); Giulio Vannelli (LEDa - Laboratoire d'Economie de Dauphine - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - Université Paris Dauphine-PSL - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) |
| Abstract: | We study how technology adoption and changes in global value chain (GVC) integration jointly affect labor shares and business function specialization in a sample of 14 manufacturing industries in 14 European countries in 1999–2011. Increases in upstream, forward GVC integration directly reduce labor shares, mostly through reductions in fabrication, but also via other business functions. We do not find any direct effects of robot adoption; robotization affects labor only indirectly, by increasing upstream, forward GVC integration. In this sense robotization is "upstream-biased". Rapid robotization in China shaped robotization in Europe and, therefore, relative demand for labor there. |
| Keywords: | labor share, functional specialization, global value chains, upstreamness, technological change, automation, robots |
| Date: | 2024–05 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-04346960 |
| By: | Hanming Fang (University of Pennsylvania and NBER); Ming Li (The Chinese University of Hong Kong); Long Wang (Fudan University); Yang Yang (The Chinese University of Hong Kong) |
| Abstract: | Using China’s expansion of the high-speed rail system (HSR) as a quasi-natural experiment, we analyze the comprehensive vehicle registration data from 2010 to 2023 to estimate the causal impact of HSR connectivity on the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). Implementing several identification strategies, including staggered difference-indifferences (DID), Callaway and Sant’Anna (CS) DID, and two instrumental-variable approaches, we consistently find that, by alleviating range anxiety, the expansion of HSR can account for up to one third of the increase in EV market share and EV sales in China during our sample period, with effects particularly pronounced in cities served by faster HSR lines. The results remain robust when controlling for local industrial policies, charging infrastructure growth, supply-side factors, and economic development. We also find that HSR connectivity amplifies the effectiveness of charging infrastructure and consumer purchase subsidies in promoting EV adoption. |
| Keywords: | Electric Vehicles; High-Speed Rail; Industrial Policy |
| JEL: | L52 L53 O18 Q55 R41 |
| Date: | 2025–02–10 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pen:papers:25-006 |