Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/295908 
Year of Publication: 
2024
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 16885
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
This study examines the impact of a technological change on employment and wages, focusing on the adoption of power looms in the silk-weaving industry. Exploiting plant-level panel data from 20th century Japan, we demonstrate that at the plant level, the power loom adaption increased the employment and wages of adult male workers, who likely conducted engineering tasks, and moderately increased wages of female adults, who were simultaneously displaced and reinstated to more non-routine tasks. The wage hike of adult workers induced the exit of less efficient plants and decreased female adult employment by 28 percent at the area level.
Subjects: 
electrification
automation
employment
wage
second industrial revolution
JEL: 
J23
J24
J31
N35
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
566.18 kB





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.