Digitization inequality: how robotization shapes gendered perceived pay fairness in China

  • 0School of Economics, Guangdong University of Finance and Economics, Guangzhou, China.

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Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Robotization boosts perceived pay fairness for male manufacturing workers more than females in China. This gender gap stems from men receiving greater wage gains, while skill development benefits women less.

Area Of Science

  • Industrial Sociology
  • Labor Economics
  • Technology and Society

Background

  • Robotization is transforming manufacturing industries globally.
  • Understanding its impact on workers' perceptions of fairness is crucial.
  • Gender disparities in technological adoption and its benefits are a growing concern.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To investigate the gendered effects of robotization on perceived pay fairness (PPFs) in China's manufacturing sector.
  • To analyze how robotization contributes to gender disparities in PPFs.
  • To explore the mediating roles of wage dynamics and skill development.

Main Methods

  • Analysis of survey data from 28,470 manufacturing workers in Guangdong, China.
  • Application of ordinary least squares regression and instrumental variable techniques.
  • Mediation analyses to assess the roles of wages and skill development.

Main Results

  • Robotization positively correlates with PPFs, with a stronger effect observed for men than women.
  • Greater wage gains for men primarily explain the gender gap in PPFs.
  • Wage growth mediates the robotization-PPF relationship for both genders, but less so for women.

Conclusions

  • Persistent gender disparities exist in the benefits of robotization, favoring male workers.
  • Female workers experience weaker benefits due to smaller wage increases and limited impact of skill development.
  • Policy interventions are needed to address gender wage gaps and enhance skill utilization for women in robotized workplaces.

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