Industry 4.0: What makes it a revolution? A historical framework to understand the phenomenon

Cristina Orsolin Klingenberg, Marco Antônio Viana Borges and José Antônio do Vale Antunes

Technology in Society, 2022, vol. 70, issue C

Abstract: This paper takes a historical approach to analyse the Fourth Industrial Revolution, denominated Industry 4.0. Although its technologies are more evolutive than disruptive, their combination and gradual improvement promise significant impacts on the economy and society, thus characterising a veritable revolution. However, the pace of diffusion depends on profit expectation, competition intensity, the regulatory system, financial availability, demand, the labour market, and attitudes towards the new technologies. To enhance understanding of the phenomenon, we describe a framework with three contextual elements of the history of each revolution: technological complementarities, economic institutions, and social structure.

Keywords: Industry 4.0; Industrial revolution; Technological change (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:teinso:v:70:y:2022:i:c:s0160791x22001506

DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2022.102009

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