Industrial Robot Adoption, Human Capital, and Global Value Chain Upgrading: Insights from China

Tianding Zhang and Sumei Gan

China & World Economy, 2025, vol. 33, issue 2, 209-251

Abstract: Concerns have been raised that the adoption of industrial robots in developed economies may hinder industrialization and displace jobs in emerging economies. However, the growing use of robots in emerging economies may help mitigate these negative effects. This study, drawing on a theoretical model and empirical analysis, reveals that the adoption of robots in China, a developing country, significantly enhanced firms' positions in global value chains (GVCs). A detailed analysis reveals that markups and the structure of intermediate inputs were key mechanisms. The study also found that improvements in human capital enhanced the efficiency of robots, enabling firms to use them more effectively, which further strengthened the firms' position in GVCs. The positive impact of the adoption of robots on GVC upgrading was more pronounced in non‐resource‐based cities and cities with high labor costs. Furthermore, the study highlights that robot adoption in medium‐ and high‐tech industries had a greater impact on GVC upgrading. In conclusion, this study suggests that robot adoption in emerging economies can enhance their position in GVCs, with human capital playing a crucial role.

Date: 2025
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