Author Information:

Wang Yongqin, Professor at the School of Economics, Fudan University

Dong Wen, Postdoctoral Researcher at the School of Economics, Fudan University

Abstract:

This paper utilizes data from the Chinese Urban Household Survey and the Dynamic Monitoring of Floating Population, matching the level of industrial robot penetration in regions, to analyze the impact of the rise of robots on the income and wage structure of Chinese workers. It particularly focuses on the role of labor market institutions. The research finds that, from a direct impact perspective, the application of robots has a significantly negative effect on the wage income of local residents and floating population in the manufacturing sector. However, from an indirect impact perspective, the impact of robot application on the wage income of local residents and the floating population in the non-manufacturing sector varies significantly. Moreover, regarding wage structure, the impact of robot application on workers' wage income exhibits a notable "wage polarization" feature. This paper further examines the direct and indirect impact mechanisms of industrial robot application on workers' wages from the perspective of workers' relative bargaining power and the substitutability and complementarity of labor in different sectors. This study suggests that, in the era of artificial intelligence, establishing a unified labor market that balances job security and flexibility is of significant importance in promoting high-quality employment and common prosperity.

Keywords: Robots, labor income, wage polarization, household registration system