scholarly journals Robots and Firms*†‡

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Koch ◽  
Ilya Manuylov ◽  
Marcel Smolka
Keyword(s):  
Causal Effect ◽  
Labour Productivity ◽  
Firm Characteristics ◽  
Cost Share ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Ex Ante ◽  
Productivity Process ◽  
Robot Technology ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Robust Evidence

Abstract We study the microeconomic implications of robot adoption using a rich panel data-set of Spanish manufacturing firms over a 27-year period (1990-2016). We provide causal evidence on two central questions: (1) Which firm characteristics prompt firms to adopt robots? (2) What is the impact of robots on adopting firms relative to non-adopting firms? To address these questions, we look at our data through the lens of recent attempts in the literature to formalize the implications of robot technology. As for the first question, we establish robust evidence for positive selection, i.e., ex-ante better performing firms (measured through output and labour productivity) are more likely to adopt robots. On the other hand, conditional on size, ex-ante more skill-intensive firms are less likely to do so. As for the second question, we find that robot adoption generates substantial output gains in the vicinity of 20-25% within four years, reduces the labour cost share by 5-7%-points, and leads to net job creation at a rate of 10%. These results are robust to controlling for non-random selection into robot adoption through a difference-in-differences approach combined with a propensity score reweighting estimator. To further validate these results, we also offer structural estimates of total factor productivity (TFP) where robot technology enters the (endogenous) productivity process of firms. The results demonstrate a positive causal effect of robots on productivity, as well as a complementarity between robots and exporting in boosting productivity.

Eviction and Voter Turnout: The Political Consequences of Housing Instability

2021 ◽  
pp. 003232922110507
Author(s):  
Gillian Slee ◽  
Matthew Desmond
Keyword(s):  
Voter Turnout ◽  
Causal Effect ◽  
Additive Model ◽  
The United States ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Endogeneity Bias ◽  
Political Consequences ◽  
Housing Costs ◽  
Election Results ◽  
The Impact

In recent years, housing costs have outpaced incomes in the United States, resulting in millions of eviction filings each year. Yet no study has examined the link between eviction and voting. Drawing on a novel data set that combines tens of millions of eviction and voting records, this article finds that residential eviction rates negatively impacted voter turnout during the 2016 presidential election. Results from a generalized additive model show eviction’s effect on voter turnout to be strongest in neighborhoods with relatively low rates of displacement. To address endogeneity bias and estimate the causal effect of eviction on voting, the analysis treats commercial evictions as an instrument for residential evictions, finding that increases in neighborhood eviction rates led to substantial declines in voter turnout. This study demonstrates that the impact of eviction reverberates far beyond housing loss, affecting democratic participation.

scholarly journals The Impact of Teachers Unions on Teachers’ Well-Being Under Various Legal Institutions: Evidence From District–Teacher Matched Data

AERA Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 233285841986729 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eunice S. Han
Keyword(s):  
Multilevel Models ◽  
Causal Effect ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Legal Environment ◽  
Legal Institutions ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Teachers Unions ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Matched Data ◽  
The Impact

This article examines how teachers unions affect teachers’ well-being under various legal institutions. Using a district–teacher matched data set, this study identifies the union effects by three approaches. First, I contrast teacher outcomes across different state laws toward unions. Second, I compare the union–nonunion differentials within the same legal environment, using multilevel models and propensity score matching. Finally, unexpected legal changes restricting the collective bargaining of teachers in four states form a natural experiment, allowing me to use the difference-in-difference estimation to identify the causal effect of weakening unionism on teacher outcomes. I find that (a) many teachers join unions even when bargaining is rarely or never available, and meet-and-confer or union membership rate affects teachers’ lives in the absence of a bargaining contract; (b) how unions influence teacher outcomes vary greatly by different legal environment; and (c) the changes in public policy limiting teachers’ bargaining rights significantly decrease teacher compensation.

The Impact of US Monetary Growth on Bitcoin Trading Volume in the Current Economic Uncertainty

2020 ◽  
pp. 493-509
Author(s):  
İsmail Canöz
Keyword(s):  
Causal Relationship ◽  
Trading Volume ◽  
Causal Effect ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Time Varying ◽  
Economic Uncertainty ◽  
Causality Test ◽  
Data Set ◽  
The Impact

This study examines the effect of US monetary growth on Bitcoin trading volume. To achieve this purpose, firstly, the symmetric causality test is used. Following this test, another symmetric causality test is used to reveal a time-varying causal effect between variables. The data set covers the period from July 2010 to July 2019. The results of the first symmetric causality test, which considers the time interval of the study data as a whole, show that there is no causal relationship between variables. According to the results of the second causality test, these support the previous results substantially. However, an interesting detail is the causal relationship between variables for the period between April 2019 and July 2019. The reason for this relationship could be that investors who are indecisive during the current economic uncertainty add Bitcoin to their portfolios in response to the Federal Reserve's decisions.

Shrouded Prices and Firm Reputation: Evidence from the U.S. Hotel Industry

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bennett Chiles
Keyword(s):  
Rating Scale ◽  
Causal Effect ◽  
Hotel Industry ◽  
Firm Characteristics ◽  
Firm Reputation ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Online Travel ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Shed Light ◽  
The U.S

Firms in many industries engage in price obfuscation—tactics that intentionally make prices more difficult for consumers to discern. Although existing research has focused on the short-term financial gains that motivate firms to obfuscate, reputational concerns may at least partially counteract these incentives if consumers punish deceptive firms via loss of loyalty in future transactions and/or publicly observable negative feedback. This paper addresses the latter possibility, exploring the impact of mandatory shrouded surcharges on firm reputation in the U.S. hotel industry. Using data collected from two major online travel sites, I exploit differences in surcharge disclosure across booking channels to identify the causal effect of hidden “resort fees” on traveler ratings. I find that hidden fees decrease ratings by roughly 0.15 points (on a rating scale ranging from 1 to 5). The magnitude of this effect varies based on firm characteristics, and this variation is consistent with observed heterogeneity in resort fee adoption patterns: when the expected punishment is more severe, firms are substantially less likely to adopt shrouded surcharges. Results shed light on the extent to which reputational mechanisms may act as a check against price obfuscation and other similar practices intended to exploit boundedly rational consumers. This paper was accepted by Eric Anderson, marketing.

scholarly journals Technology, TFPG and Employment: A Panel Data Analysis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sameer Malik ◽  
Arup Mitra
Keyword(s):  
Panel Data ◽  
Productivity Growth ◽  
Industrial Development ◽  
Panel Data Analysis ◽  
Labour Productivity ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Development Organization ◽  
Labour Productivity Growth ◽  
The Impact

Abstract This paper based on the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) panel data set makes an attempt to estimate total factor productivity growth across countries. Productivity convergence over time is evident when countries are divided across regions which could be attributed to a greater degree of association of countries in a given region pursuing joint efforts for infrastructural development, ICT coverage and advancement, trade negotiations, technology acquisition and innovation, and inflow of FDI. In terms of efficiency estimates for select years most of the countries are seen to be operating much below the frontier. This is indicative of the fact that countries are keen to pursue resource-driven growth in an attempt to maximize it. Based on the inter-temporal data we observed that a number of countries registered either a negative or a positive but low correlation between labour productivity growth and TFPG. Evidently, countries are engaged in greater mechanization which may be raising labour productivity without ushering in much success in terms of TFPG. From panel data regression the impact of technology perceived in terms of TFPG, on employment is seen to be negligible though it is important to note that none of the groups, income or region wise, recorded a statistically significant negative effect except the LDC, while the significant cases (howsoever scanty) reveal a positive association. Appropriate incentives may motivate firms to experience technological progress and employment growth both.

scholarly journals Does an Inclusive Citizenship Law Promote Economic Development?

2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Amir Imam ◽  
Kangni Kpodar
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Control Method ◽  
Institutional Environment ◽  
Synthetic Control ◽  
Data Set ◽  
The World ◽  
Cross Country ◽  
Citizenship Laws ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Robust Evidence

AbstractThis paper analyzes the impact of citizenship laws on economic development. We first document the evolution of citizenship laws around the world, highlighting the main features of jus soli, jus sanguinis as well as mixed regimes, and shedding light on the channels through which they could have differentiated impact on economic development. We then compile a data set of citizenship laws around the world. Using cross-country regressions, panel-data techniques, as well as the synthetic control method and subjecting the results to a battery of tests, we find robust evidence that jus soli laws—being more inclusive—lead to higher income levels than alternative citizenship rules in developing countries, though to a less extent in countries with stronger institutional environment.

scholarly journals Causal Effect of Honorary Titles on Physicians’ Service Volumes in Online Health Communities: Retrospective Study

10.2196/18527 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. e18527
Author(s):  
Haiyan Yu ◽  
Yali Wang ◽  
Jying-Nan Wang ◽  
Ya-Ling Chiu ◽  
Hang Qiu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Effect ◽  
Causal Effect ◽  
Home Page ◽  
Differential Treatment ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Incentive Policy ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Health Communities ◽  
The Impact

Background An OHC online health community (OHC) is an interactive platform for virtual communication between patients and physicians. Patients can typically search, seek, and share their experience and rate physicians, who may be involved in giving advice. Some OHC providers provide incentives in form of honorary titles to encourage the web-based involvement of physicians, but it is unclear whether the award of honorary titles has an impact on their consultation volume in an OHC. Objective This study is designed to identify the differential treatment effect of the incentive policy on the service volumes for the subgroups of treatment and control in an OHC. This study aims to answer the following questions: Does an honorary title for physicians impact their service volumes in an OHC? During the period of discontinuity, can we identify the sharp effect of the incentive award on the outcomes of physicians’ service volumes? Methods We acquired the targeted samples based on treatment, namely, physicians with an honorary title or not and outcomes measured before and after the award of the 2 subgroups. A regression discontinuity design was applied to investigate the impact of the honorary titles incentive as a treatment in an OHC. There was a sharply discontinuous effect of treatment on physicians’ online health service performance. The experimental data set consisted of 346 physicians in the treatment group (with honorary titles). Applying the propensity score matching method, the same size of physicians (n=346) was matched and selected as the control group. Results A sharp discontinuity was found at the time of the physician receiving the honorary title. The results showed that the parametric estimates of the coefficient were significantly positively (P<.001) associated with monthly home page views. The jump in the monthly volumes of home page views was much sharper than that of the monthly consultations. Conclusions The changes in the volumes of monthly consultations and home page views reflect the differential treatment effect of honorary titles on physicians’ service volumes. The effect of the incentive policy with honorary titles is objectively estimated from both the perspective of online and offline medical services in an OHC. Being named with honorary titles significantly multiplied monthly home page views, yet it did not significantly impact monthly consultations. This may be because consultation capacity is limited by the physician's schedule for consultations.

scholarly journals Causal Effect of Honorary Titles on Physicians’ Service Volumes in Online Health Communities: Retrospective Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haiyan Yu ◽  
Yali Wang ◽  
Jying-Nan Wang ◽  
Ya-Ling Chiu ◽  
Hang Qiu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Effect ◽  
Causal Effect ◽  
Home Page ◽  
Differential Treatment ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Incentive Policy ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Health Communities ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND An OHC online health community (OHC) is an interactive platform for virtual communication between patients and physicians. Patients can typically search, seek, and share their experience and rate physicians, who may be involved in giving advice. Some OHC providers provide incentives in form of honorary titles to encourage the web-based involvement of physicians, but it is unclear whether the award of honorary titles has an impact on their consultation volume in an OHC. OBJECTIVE This study is designed to identify the differential treatment effect of the incentive policy on the service volumes for the subgroups of treatment and control in an OHC. This study aims to answer the following questions: Does an honorary title for physicians impact their service volumes in an OHC? During the period of discontinuity, can we identify the sharp effect of the incentive award on the outcomes of physicians’ service volumes? METHODS We acquired the targeted samples based on treatment, namely, physicians with an honorary title or not and outcomes measured before and after the award of the 2 subgroups. A regression discontinuity design was applied to investigate the impact of the honorary titles incentive as a treatment in an OHC. There was a sharply discontinuous effect of treatment on physicians’ online health service performance. The experimental data set consisted of 346 physicians in the treatment group (with honorary titles). Applying the propensity score matching method, the same size of physicians (n=346) was matched and selected as the control group. RESULTS A sharp discontinuity was found at the time of the physician receiving the honorary title. The results showed that the parametric estimates of the coefficient were significantly positively (<i>P</i>&lt;.001) associated with monthly home page views. The jump in the monthly volumes of home page views was much sharper than that of the monthly consultations. CONCLUSIONS The changes in the volumes of monthly consultations and home page views reflect the differential treatment effect of honorary titles on physicians’ service volumes. The effect of the incentive policy with honorary titles is objectively estimated from both the perspective of online and offline medical services in an OHC. Being named with honorary titles significantly multiplied monthly home page views, yet it did not significantly impact monthly consultations. This may be because consultation capacity is limited by the physician's schedule for consultations.

The Impact of Firm Characteristics and IT Governance on IT Material Weaknesses

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 88-111
Author(s):  
Peiqin Zhang ◽  
Kexin Zhao ◽  
Ram L. Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Performance ◽  
It Governance ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
End Users ◽  
Firm Characteristics ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Material Weaknesses ◽  
General Material ◽  
The Impact

Accurate and timely reporting of organizational performance is becoming increasingly important and highly regulated. However, organizations face a variety of challenges in seeking to provide accurate and reliable information due to the existence of IT control problems. Hence it is important for end users including auditors and managers to understand how to manage IT material weaknesses (ITMWs). While there is extensive accounting research on general material weaknesses (MWs), ITMWs are under researched. This article identifies key firm characteristics that appear to be related to ITMWs. In addition, the authors suggest that IT governance may help firms mitigate such problems. To gain a deeper understanding of IT governance effects, this article proposes a model which includes an innovative construct, ITGOV, operationalized using secondary data. The authors empirically validate the proposed model based on a data set of 1,112 firms. Their study illustrates the differences between ITMWs and general MWs. These results can also help end users computing by offering insights into better management of ITMWs.

Some New Historical Evidence on the Impact of Affirmative Action: Detroit, 1972

1992 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 81-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Hyclak ◽  
Larry W. Taylor ◽  
James B. Stewart
Keyword(s):  
Affirmative Action ◽  
Black Men ◽  
Black Males ◽  
Hiring Practices ◽  
Firm Characteristics ◽  
Historical Evidence ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Unique Data ◽  
Detroit Area ◽  
The Impact

A sample of Detroit area firms in 1972 is used to determine the effects of affirmative action requirements and other firm characteristics on the recruitment and hiring of women and black men. The results suggest that affirmative action changed firm hiring practices with respect to black males. The unique data set also allows for a test of Becker's well-known hypothesis that customer prejudice may influence the hiring of blacks or females.

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