Three essays on the political economy of robot adoption and drought policies

Trois essais sur l'économie politique de l'adoption des robots et des politiques de lutte contre la sécheresse

Nourhan Hashish ()
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Nourhan Hashish: ECON - Département d'économie (Sciences Po) - Sciences Po - Sciences Po - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

Sciences Po Economics Publications (main) from HAL

Abstract: This dissertation explores the socio-economic and political implications of robotization and climate shocks through three empirical chapters. Chapter 1 examines the impact of robotization in South Korea on individual life satisfaction. A robot exposure index is constructed using occupational and demographic data. Using KLIPS data and a DiD framework, the study observes two phases: 2005–2009 and post-2009. Initially, exposure to robots reduced life satisfaction, especially among less-educated workers. Post-2009, robot exposure improved satisfaction for young, highly educated males due to higher employment. Wage gains were concentrated among the tertiary-educated, indicating productivity effects.The displacement effect led to part-time work and job switching for low-skilled workers. Household-level analysis shows negative impacts were driven by spouses of displaced workers. Regional-level IV analysis using Singapore and replaceability indices finds no strong productivity or psychological effects. Chapter 2 explores robotization's effect on political polarization in South Korea. Using IFR and KLIPS data, the study finds rising support for both Left and Right parties. Center parties lost votes, especially in parliamentary elections. Polarization is driven by generational divides; older, disadvantaged workers lean Right. A shift-share IV approach, using Singapore's robot adoption, supports causal inference. Chapter 3 investigates Tunisia's 2016 drought policy change and its electoral consequences.Ending drought relief led to reduced support for the incumbent president in 2019. A DiD strategy with district-level drought damage and electoral data is employed. Policy backlash was evident in agricultural areas but did not affect voter turnout. Voters punished the president but not the parliament, reflecting Tunisia's hybrid democracy. The study reveals how economic grievances influence electoral outcomes under weak party systems.

Keywords: Life satisfaction; Automation and robot adoption; Political economy of environmental policies and climate change; Industrial policy; Satisfaction de la vie; Automatisation et adoption des robots; Economie politique des politiques environnementales et du changement climatique; Politique industrielle (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-05-28
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://theses.hal.science/tel-05525197v1
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Published in Economics and Finance. Institut d'études politiques de paris - Sciences Po, 2025. English. ⟨NNT : 2025IEPP0033⟩

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