Robots as guardians: Industrial automation and workplace safety in China

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Luo, Wei; Tang, Lixin; Yang, Yaxin; Zou, Xianqiang
• 署名单位: University of Jinan; University of Jinan; Renmin University of China
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0304-3878
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2024.103381
• 发表日期: 2025
• 关键词: Industrial robots; Workplace safety; Labor market adjustment

摘要

Industrial robots can improve workplace safety by performing hazardous tasks on behalf of workers. This paper examines the impact of industrial robots on workplace safety in China. We find that a one-standard-deviation increase in robot exposure reduces annual workplace accidents and fatalities by 0.100 and 0.0133 cases per thousand population, compared to sample averages of 0.122 accidents and 0.0351 fatalities. These findings are robust to an instrumental variable strategy and various robustness checks. Our analysis of injuries in household surveys and Baidu search activities reinforces these results. Using an accounting framework, we show that the safety improvement is not driven by the mechanical effects of robot-induced employment reduction. Instead, within-occupation improvement in workplace safety plays a more crucial role.