Technological progress and labour welfare: evidence from robot adoption in China

Abstract

ABSTRACT The widespread integration of robots has raised apprehensions about their influence on labourlabour welfare. Utilizing data from the China Labor-force Dynamic Survey (CLDS) spanning 2014 to 2018 and robot data from the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), we explore the influence of robots on workers’ health and the associated mechanisms. Contrary to prevalent societal concerns, our study reveals that the utilization of robots substantially enhances worker health. Mechanistic tests demonstrate the effectiveness of robots in enhancing worker health through task reallocation and improvements to the work environment. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that the advantages of robot utilization may particularly benefit vulnerable groups, including those with physically demanding jobs, low-skilled workers, and migrant populations. This fosters the gradual development of a “human-machine symbiosis” in the interaction between machines and humans. Subsequent research has demonstrated that the implementation of robots is effective in diminishing work intensity and alleviating negative anxiety among workers, thereby enhancing their mental health. By drawing evidence from developing countries to illuminate the positive aspects of the forces of creative destruction, our study offers a micro-perspective for objectively evaluating intelligent applications and worker welfare. It also provides instructive insights for a comprehensive assessment of the robot-human relationship.