Industrial automation and local public goods

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Spreen, Thomas Luke; Wang, Ziyuan; Yang, Lang (Kate)
• 署名单位: University System of Maryland; University of Maryland College Park; Boston Consulting Group (BCG); George Washington University
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0047-2727
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2025.105394
• 发表日期: 2025
• 关键词: robots; automation; public finance; public goods

摘要

Recent research shows industrial automation raises labor productivity but also depresses employment and wages in exposed industries and regions. This paper examines the impact of automation on U.S. state and local governments. We find that state and local governments with greater exposure to automation experience significant declines in per capita revenues and expenditures. The spending reduction is concentrated in K-12 education and is driven primarily by a decrease in state support. Automation exposure is also associated with a decline in student test scores. These findings suggest that industrial automation impairs state and local financing of public education and student outcomes.