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Professor Liuchun Deng, PhD

Professor Liuchun Deng, PhD
Current Position

since 12/19

Research Affiliate

Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH) – Member of the Leibniz Association

since 8/25

Associate Professor of Economics

Duke Kunshan University

Research Interests
  • structural change and international trade
  • economic growth
  • technological change

Liuchun Deng joined the institute as a Research Affiliate in December 2019. His research focuses on technological progress, economic growth, and international trade.

Liuchun Deng holds the position of Associate Professor of Economics at Duke Kunshan University in Suzhou, China. Before joining Duke Kunshan, he was an Assistant Professor at Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Yale-NUS College, and the National University of Singapore. He was also an economist at IWH.

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Professor Liuchun Deng, PhD
Professor Liuchun Deng, PhD
- Department Structural Change and Productivity
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Publications

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Robots, Occupations, and Worker Age: A Production-unit Analysis of Employment

Liuchun Deng Steffen Müller Verena Plümpe Jens Stegmaier

in: European Economic Review, November 2024

Abstract

We analyse the impact of robot adoption on employment composition using novel micro data on robot use in German manufacturing plants linked with social security records and data on job tasks. Our task-based model predicts more favourable employment effects for the least routine-task intensive occupations and for young workers, with the latter being better at adapting to change. An event-study analysis of robot adoption confirms both predictions. We do not find adverse employment effects for any occupational or age group, but churning among low-skilled workers rises sharply. We conclude that the displacement effect of robots is occupation biased but age neutral, whereas the reinstatement effect is age biased and benefits young workers most.

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Robot Adoption at German Plants

Liuchun Deng Verena Plümpe Jens Stegmaier

in: Jahrbücher für Nationalökonomie und Statistik, No. 3, 2024

Abstract

Using a newly collected dataset at the plant level from 2014 to 2018, we provide the first microscopic portrait of robotization in Germany and study the correlates of robot adoption. Our descriptive analysis uncovers five stylized facts: (1) Robot use is relatively rare. (2) The distribution of robots is highly skewed. (3) New robot adopters contribute substantially to the recent robotization. (4) Robot users are exceptional. (5) Heterogeneity in robot types matters. Our regression results further suggest plant size, high-skilled labor share, exporter status, and labor shortage to be strongly associated with the future probability of robot adoption.

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Robots and Female Employment in German Manufacturing

Liuchun Deng Steffen Müller Verena Plümpe Jens Stegmaier

in: American Economic Association Papers and Proceedings, May 2023

Abstract

We analyze the impact of robot adoption on female employment. Our analysis is based on novel micro data on robot use by German manufacturing establishments linked with social security records. An event study analysis for robot adoption shows increased churning among female workers. Whereas hiring rises significantly at robot adoption, separations increase with a smaller magnitude one year later. Overall, employment effects are modestly positive and strongest for medium-qualified women. We find no adverse employment effects for female workers in any of our broad qualification groups. 

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Working Papers

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Robots, Occupations, and Worker Age: A Production-unit Analysis of Employment

Liuchun Deng Steffen Müller Verena Plümpe Jens Stegmaier

in: IWH Discussion Papers, No. 5, 2023

Abstract

We analyse the impact of robot adoption on employment composition using novel micro data on robot use in German manufacturing plants linked with social security records and data on job tasks. Our task-based model predicts more favourable employment effects for the least routine-task intensive occupations and for young workers, with the latter being better at adapting to change. An event-study analysis of robot adoption confirms both predictions. We do not find adverse employment effects for any occupational or age group, but churning among low-skilled workers rises sharply. We conclude that the displacement effect of robots is occupation biased but age neutral, whereas the reinstatement effect is age biased and benefits young workers most.

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Browse all working papers
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