An empirical analysis of the impacts of robotization on employment in the Norwegian manufacturing industry

Publication Type:

Thesis

Authors:

Fredrik Grøndahl; Gina Hegland Eriksen

Source:

Administration, Economics (2017)

URL:

https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Will-robots-replace-us-%3A-an-Empirical-analysis-of-Gr%C3%B8ndahl-Eriksen/e4e22bf2498e42d6308d81cc7483b5a0b8ba48e7

Abstract:

Rapid advances in robotics, artificial intelligence, and digital technologies have introduced renewed concern that labor will become redundant. The aim of this thesis is to assess whether there exists a relationship between robotization and employment in the time periods 1996-2005 and 2008-2015 in Norwegian manufacturing industries. We exploit data on operational robots from the International Federation of Robotics and individual level data from the Norwegian Labour Force Survey, to assess a potential relationship between increased robotization and the probability of being employed within the manufacturing industries. Utilizing linear probability models, we find no negative relationship between increased robotization and the probability of being employed in Norwegian manufacturing industries. Further, we find indications of a relationship between increased robotization and skill-biases. However, the relationships are of no economic significance. Our findings are consistent with previous research on the impacts of robotization on employment outcomes. Further, we find that robotization is distinct and weakly correlated to import density and capital density.