Automation and Productivity: a Cross-country, Cross-industry Comparison

Lene Kromann, Nikolaj Malchow-Møller, Jan Rose Skaksen, Anders Sørensen*

*Corresponding author for this work

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Abstract

We investigate the effects of automation on total factor productivity (TFP). Using Industry-level panel data for nine countries, we find that more intensive use of industrial robots has a significantly positive effect on TFP. Specifically, an increase of one standard deviation in the robot intensity is associated with more than 6% higher TFP. Moreover, we find that the robot intensity increases with Chinese import competition and that automation is associated with higher wages and unchanged or higher employment.
Original languageEnglish
JournalIndustrial and Corporate Change
Volume29
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)265-287
Number of pages23
ISSN0960-6491
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2020

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