The Division of Labour, Worker Organisation, and Technological Change

Lex Borghans and Weel,Bas,ter
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Weel,Bas,ter: ROA rm
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Bas ter Weel

No 5, Research Memoranda from Maastricht : ROA, Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market

Abstract: The model developed in this paper explains differences in the division of labour across firmsas a result of computer technology adoption. We find that changes in the division of labourcan result both from reduced production time and from improved communicationpossibilities. The first shifts the division of labour towards a more generic structure, while thelatter enhances specialisation. Although there exists heterogeneity, our estimates for arepresentative sample of Dutch establishments in the period 1990-1996 suggest thatproductivity gains have been the main determinant for shifts in the division of labour withinmost firms. These productivity gains have induced skill upgrading, while in firms gainingmainly from improved communication possibilities specialisation increased and skillrequirements have fallen.

Keywords: education, training and the labour market (search for similar items in EconPapers)
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-edu, nep-eff and nep-ino
Date: 2005
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Related works:
Working Paper: The Division of Labour, Worker Organisation, and Technological Change (2005)
Working Paper: The Division of Labour, Worker Organisation, and Technological Change (2005)
Journal Article: The Division of Labour, Worker Organisation, and Technological Change (2006)
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