Toward an Inclusive Industry 4.0: Social Policy, Economic Growth, and Development in Africa

David Mhlanga and Mufaro Dzingirai ()
Additional contact information
David Mhlanga: College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg
Mufaro Dzingirai: Department of Business Management, Faculty of Commerce, Midlands State University

Chapter Chapter 19 in The Fourth Industrial Revolution in Africa, 2023, pp 361-378 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract The Fourth Industrial Revolution, or 4IR, is a framework or overarching concept that covers data and technology such as artificial intelligence (AI), as well as its relationships to tangible things such as infrastructures, automobiles, residences, and cities. It reflects essential and very genuine tendencies, but unfortunately, most of both good and negative criticism of it adopts a technical determinist viewpoint. This is regrettable because it signifies significant and very real developments. Most individuals are under the false impression that new technologies actively influence society, either by creating new wealth or by destroying democratic institutions. Most people assume that new technologies directly alter society, rather than recognizing that society may influence the direction of research and development (R&D) and select how technologies are utilized. If countervailing measures are not implemented, the application of technology linked with the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) may not only bring about large economic growth and gains in welfare but also social and economic disruption, including a widening of inequality. The goal of this chapter is to discuss, through the prism of social policy, the key measures that can be implemented to ensure that the Fourth Industrial Revolution is inclusive. The ultimate objective is to comprehend how this might help economic growth and development, especially in Africa.

Keywords: Development; Fourth Industrial Revolution; Economic growth; Social policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

There are no downloads for this item, see the EconPapers FAQ for hints about obtaining it.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:aaechp:978-3-031-28686-5_19

Ordering information: This item can be ordered from
http://www.springer.com/9783031286865

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-28686-5_19

Access Statistics for this chapter

More chapters in Advances in African Economic, Social and Political Development from Springer
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().