The Future of Work Requires More, Not Less Technology In Developing Countries

Siddhartha Raja and Luc Christiaensen

No 27870483, Jobs Group Papers, Notes, and Guides from The World Bank

Abstract: Digital technology is transforming the organization and location of production, and thus the futureof work. It risks widening the gap between richer and developing countries, and between the better skilled and connected and the poorer population groups within countries, who stand to bear the brunt of the adjustment. But technology also creates opportunities (leapfrogging), to generate jobs, increase earnings and be more inclusive. To take maximum advantage and counter the threat of rising global inequality, developing countries need to: (1) address bottlenecks in technology access; (2) invest in skills and (3) create an enabling environment.

Keywords: digital technology; economies of scale; technology access; adoption of technology; cost of production; Access to Electricity; future of work; people with disability; quality of job; inequality within country; access to technology; east asian miracle; local labor market; social protection strategy; inequality will; migration between countries; social protection program; Social Safety Nets; Transport and ICT; business process outsourcing; electronic payment system; access to information; price ratio; social security; Learning and Innovation Credit; digital economy; labor share; skilled occupation; digital development; 3d printing; manual skill; labor productivity; extreme poverty; transaction cost; skill gap; global inequality; improved connectivity; computer animation; youth bulge; displaced worker; technological change; traditional methods; social program; digital divide; interpersonal skill; world leaders; Job Quality; Public-Private Partnership; internet connectivity; rural area; building skills; educational system; product innovation; rent seeking; learning opportunity; rural community; community participation; empirical evidence; public intervention; Cash Transfer; income strategy; Distance Learning; government service; market power; public policy; demographic composition; employment arrangements; market regulation; population group; trading environment; richer countries; job loss; Technology Diffusion; employer demand; business environment; formal employment; car share; foster transparency; mobile telephone; employment generation; artificial intelligence; technology adoption; remote area; negative effect; global policy; distribution activity; search cost; social barrier; skilled job; creating job; automotive industry; market failure; enabling environment; lung cancer; market entry; vulnerable group; facilitating trade; skill mix; productivity increase; unemployed receiving; Technology Transfer; socioeconomic development; unskilled worker; old people; global income; labor-intensive export; manufacturing sector; advanced economy; demographic group; increase productivity; emerging economy; Digital Literacy; Emerging economies; Electric Power; Public Services; young people; comparative analysis; remote community; quality service (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 8
Date: 2017-07-01
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Working Paper: The Future of Work Requires More, Not Less Technology in Developing Countries (2017)
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