Who’s afraid of automation? Examining determinants of fear of automation in six European countries
01 October 2024 2:00 pm CEST
Join Katarzyna Śledziewska and Renata Włoch as they reveal new insights into determinants of fear of automation in six European countries.
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Venue
hybrid, for online attendance via Zoom - please register using the registration link, which can be found below in the event description
Description
This study develops an original conceptualization of the fear of automation and assesses its determinants, such as the role of technology in the workplace (complementary or substitutive), task routineness, workers' exposure to technology, and workers' positions in the labor market. Using survey data from six Central EU countries—Austria, Germany, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia—we found that exposure to technology increases the fear of automation, similar to task substitution. Youth, less educated, and lower-income individuals are more fearful, while gender shows no significant effect. In conclusion, we discuss how automation fears impact reskilling motivation in organizational practices.
Any dissemination of the results of this event, reflect only the presenters' view. The European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.
This event will be recorded.
This is a hybrid event and can be attended either at the wiiw (Rahlgasse 3, 1060 Vienna, 2nd floor, library) or via zoom. Please use the corresponding registration links below.
Registration
For online participation
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Speaker(s)
Speakers
Prof. Katarzyna Śledziewska is Associate Professor at the Faculty of Economic Sciences of the University of Warsaw. A member of Readie and the Polish Economic Institute. At DELab UW, she is the Executive Director and she manages various international projects, such as NGI Forward and Horizon 2020. Her scientific interests focus on digital transformation and the Digital Single Market. She lectures on the theory of economic integration and regional groups as well as on digital finance. Katarzyna Śledziewska is the co-author of a recently published book titled “Digital Economy. How new technologies change the world” (WUW, 2020). She is also the author of various publications in international scientific journals, monographs and academic textbooks.
Prof. Renata Włoch is Associate Professor at the Faculty of Sociology, University of Warsaw, graduate in international relations and sociology at the University of Warsaw.. Author of numerous expert opinions and reports for business and public institutions, as well as institutional evaluations. At DELab UW, she coordinates research activities as Scientific Director. Her own research focuses on social changes resulting from digital transformation, especially those occurring in the labour market and education system. Co-author of the book 'The Digital Economy. How new technologies are changing the world' (WUW 2020). Co-creator of Digital Sociology major at the University of Warsaw.
Discussant
Nuriye Melisa Bilgin, Phd is a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Turin in the ESOMAS department. Before joining the University of Turin, she held a post-doctoral researcher position at Bocconi University. She earned her PhD in Economics from Koc University in 2020, where her dissertation was recognized with the Doctoral Dissertation Award by the Turkish Economic Association. Her research focuses on the intersection of networks, firm dynamics, technology adoption, and international trade.
Scientific Organiser(s):
Fabio Santeramo (European University Institute)
Mahdi Ghodsi (The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies)
Keywords: Automation, Technology, Competitiveness
JEL classification: F16, L16