RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Robots, Marriageable Men, Family, and Fertility
JF Journal of Human Resources
JO J Hum Resour
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 1020-11223R1
DO 10.3368/jhr.1020-11223R1
A1 Anelli, Massimo
A1 Giuntella, Osea
A1 Stella, Luca
YR 2021
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/early/2021/11/03/jhr.1020-11223R1.abstract
AB This study examines how the exposure to robots and its heterogeneous effects on the labor market opportunities of men and women affected demographic behavior. We focus on the United States and find that in regions that were more exposed to robots, gender gaps in income and labor force participation declined, reducing the relative economic stature of men. Robot penetration also triggered an increase in both divorce and cohabitation and a decline --albeit non-significant-- in the number of marriages. While there was no change in the overall fertility rate, marital fertility declined, and there was an increase in nonmarital births.