Robotisering: het kan, maar moet het ook?

Abstract

Computerization and employment Computerization and employment In this debate section of the journal, the editorial board asked informed researchers to reflect on the current debates on the way in which computerization substitutes human labour. Similar to the study by Frey and Osborne (2013), some Dutch journalists predicted that many jobs in the near future are susceptible to being replaced by technology, due to continuing computerization. The researchers in this section argue, from different perspectives, that the relation between computerization and employment is far more complex, as past studies on technology already indicate. In order to get better insight into this relationship it is not sufficient to only study whether some tasks or jobs can be computerized. Next to this technical perspective, it is also important to include economic, social and ethical perspectives and study how new technology is being used, what choices can be made and how desirable it is to develop policies to deal with the possible effects. Asking different questions from different perspectives is a promising way to strengthen the debate and move away from the unilateral and dark scenarios as presented by Frey and Osborne, because there are many opportunities for decision makers to influence the effects of new technology on employment.