Author(s)

Qian Wang ¹

Affiliation(s)

¹ Beijing 101 Middle School International Department, Beijing, 100091, China

Corresponding Author

Qian Wang

ABSTRACT

Throughout the four industrial revolutions, technological innovation has transformed the dynamics between workers and machines, significantly impacting the labor market through displacement and productivity effects. This study examines these impacts, with a particular focus on the burgeoning role of artificial intelligence (AI). By dissecting the intricate ways in which AI is altering the labor landscape, the research endeavors to shed light on the interplay between technological progress and employment. The study's objective is to provide actionable insights for policymakers, helping them in crafting policies that balance the imperatives of technological advancement and labor protection. By doing so, it aspires to contribute significantly to the nation's productivity and enhance the living standards of workers. The findings of this research are poised to inform a nuanced discourse on how to harness the potential of AI while safeguarding the interests of the workforce, ensuring that the benefits of innovation are equitably distributed across society.

KEYWORDS

Industrial Revolution, Artificial Intelligence, Labor Market, Labor Protection

CITE THIS PAPER

Qian Wang, Best of Times, Worst of Times: Balancing Innovation and Labor Protection. Population, Resources & Environmental Economics (2024) Vol. 5: 5-9. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/pree.2024.050302.

REFERENCES

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[3] Autor, D. H. (2015). Why Are There Still So Many Jobs? The History and Future of Workplace Automation. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 29(3), 3-30.
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[5] Acemoglu, D., & Restrepo, P. (2020). Robots and Jobs: Evidence from US Labor Markets. NBER Working Paper No. 24239. 
[6] Noy, S., & Zhang, W. (2023). Experimental evidence on the productivity effects of generative artificial intelligence. MIT News. Retrieved from https://news.mit.edu/2023/study-finds-chatgpt-boosts-worker-productivity-writing-tasks-0714
[7] Piketty, T. (2014). Capital in the twenty-first century (A. Goldhammer, Trans., p. 25). Harvard University Press.
[8] Brynjolfsson, E., Rock, D., & Syverson, C. (2021). The productivity J-curve: How intangibles complement general purpose technologies. American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, 13(1), 333–372. https://doi.org/10. 1257/mac. 20180453
[9] World Economic Forum. (2020). The future of jobs report 2020. World Economic Forum. https://www. weforum.org/reports/the-future-of-jobs-report-2020
[10] Korinek, A., Schindler, M., & Stiglitz, J. (2021). Technological progress, artificial intelligence, and inclusive growth. International Monetary Fund. https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WP/Issues/2021/06/11/Technological-Progress-Artificial-Intelligence-and-Inclusive-Growth-460695
[11] U.S. Department of Labor. (2023). Making Artificial Intelligence Work for Workers. https://blog.dol.gov
[12] Dabla-Norris, E., & de Mooij, R. (2024). Fiscal policy can help broaden the gains of AI to humanity. International Monetary Fund. Retrieved from https://www.imf.org  

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