Publication: Technology and employment
Abstract
Teknolojik gelişmeler istihdamın kompozisyonunu tarih boyunca etkilemiştir. Endüstri devrimi sürecinde artan makinalaşma o güne kadar üretime egemen olan zanaatkârları (vasıflı işgücünü) ikame etmiş, vasıfsız işgücüne dayalı üretim 20. yüzyılda ortaya çıkan Fordist üretim biçimiyle doruğa ulaşmıştır. 1980’li yıllardan itibaren, dünya ekonomisinde, daha eğitimli işgücünün sayısal olarak artması, iktisatçıları bu artışın nedenlerini araştırmaya itmiştir. Yapılan ampirik çalışmaların pek çoğu, teknolojik gelişmeyle vasıflı işgücü talebi arasında pozitif bir ilişki olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. Son 30 yılda iletişim-bilişim devriminin ülke ekonomileri üzerinde yarattığı büyük etkiler nedeniyle, bu devrimin, Endüstri Devrimi’nin tersine, vasıflı işgücünü tamamlayan bir özelliğe sahip olduğu belirtilmektedir. Bu çalışmada, endüstri ve iletişim-bilişim devrimlerinin istihdamın kompozisyonu üzerindeki etkisi incelendikten sonra, teknoloji ve vasıflı işgücü arasındaki ilişki, Türk özel imalat sanayii bağlamında, ampirik olarak test edilmiştir. Statik panel veri tahminin sonuçlarına göre, teknolojik gelişme ve vasıflı işgücü talebi arasında pozitif ancak zayıf bir ilişki bulunmaktadır.
Technological progress has influenced the composition of labor throughout history. Especially, increased mechanization within the process of Industrial Revolution substituted former masters of production, the craftsmen (skilled labor) and production based on unskilled labor reached its heyday in the Fordist system of production of the twentieth century. Increase in more educated labor in the world economy has led economists to examine the determinants of this increase. Most of the empirical studies state that there is a positive relationship between technological progress and demand for skilled labor. In response to the great effects of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) Revolution on economies, it is pointed out that unlike Industrial Revolution, ICTs Revolution complements skilled labor. In this thesis, after examining the effects of Industrial and ICTs Revolutions on labor composition, the relationship between technology and skilled labor is empirically tested for Turkish private manufacturing industries. According to the static panel data estimation results, there is a positive but weak relationship between technological progress and demand for skilled labor.
Technological progress has influenced the composition of labor throughout history. Especially, increased mechanization within the process of Industrial Revolution substituted former masters of production, the craftsmen (skilled labor) and production based on unskilled labor reached its heyday in the Fordist system of production of the twentieth century. Increase in more educated labor in the world economy has led economists to examine the determinants of this increase. Most of the empirical studies state that there is a positive relationship between technological progress and demand for skilled labor. In response to the great effects of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) Revolution on economies, it is pointed out that unlike Industrial Revolution, ICTs Revolution complements skilled labor. In this thesis, after examining the effects of Industrial and ICTs Revolutions on labor composition, the relationship between technology and skilled labor is empirically tested for Turkish private manufacturing industries. According to the static panel data estimation results, there is a positive but weak relationship between technological progress and demand for skilled labor.