The Social Consequences of the Digital Revolution

Martin Krzywdzinski,Maren Evers,Christine Gerber

doi:10.30687/978-88-6969-273-4/008

Martin Krzywdzinski, Maren Evers + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.30687/978-88-6969-273-4/008

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Publication Date: Oct 11, 2018
Citations: 14	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Social Science Research Center Berlin

Abstract

This article reviews the major issues and discussions related to the impact of the digital revolution on labour. First, it emphasizes that the current digital revolution in manufacturing and services is not a revolution in the sense of a sudden technological breakthrough. It rather argues that the major reason for today’s lively debate about digital technologies is a new strategic interest in a strong manufacturing sector as foundation for global competitiveness. Second, this article discusses the potential effects of digital technologies on employment. It argues that the aggregate effects on employment could be positive – depending on many other factors but in particular on the underlying social forces and power relations. Increasing inequalities might be a more problematic development than the pure destruction of jobs. Third, this article shows that the new technologies could lead to increasing standardization and surveillance of work and workers. It discusses the potentials to avoid such developments and promote the redesigning of work organization, which leads to empowerment, an enrichment of work, and an improvement of working conditions. Finally, the article discusses the impact of the platform economy, and in particular crowdwork, on labour relations.

Highlights

For several years the media has frequently reported about new achievements in automation
Despite their finding that some middle-skill jobs are threatened by automation and that some low-skill jobs are relatively safe, the analysis presented by Frey and Osborne shows a clear linear relationship between the education level required in a certain occupation and the probability that a certain occupation will disappear due to computerization and automation
We discussed the major issues related to the impact of the digital revolution on labour

Summary

Introduction

The media has frequently reported about new achievements in automation Robots and algorithms, it is said, will cause dramatic changes in how work is organized and will replace human labour altogether. It is said, will cause dramatic changes in how work is organized and will replace human labour altogether These fears are nicely illustrated by the March 2014 edition of the Economist, whose front page read “Rise of the Robots”. The associated article on digitalization started with the following words: “Prepare for a robot invasion It will change the way people think about technology” (The Economist 2014). What is really new about the technological developments that are expected to change our working lives and what is driving the current debate about the digital revolution?. Our article concludes with a summary of arguments and findings

What is New about Digitalization and What is Driving the Change?

The Threat of Unemployment and Inequality

The Transformation of the Labour Process

Findings

Conclusions