AUTOMATION OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES

In: The annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Band 340, S. 117-126

Abstract

Today, automated equipment can be found in all parts of the world. In the industrial countries, automation has gone beyond the experimental stage & has turned into a rapidly growing movement. In the developing countries, individual examples of automation exist, but they are still rare & isolated. Technically, automation is everywhere alike. But the reasons for its utilization, & its soc & econ impact, vary between countries according to their stage of development, international trade factors, employment situation, skill level of the labor force, & other factors. So far, there has been little evidence that automation causes unemployment, particularly in Europe where labor shortages are on the increase, although a certain amount of dislocation is inevitible in the transitional stages. A variety of social measures, combined with early consultation of the workers affected, should help effect a reasonably smooth transition until the benefits of higher productivity may be reflected in the economy in the form of more job opportunities. The International Labor Organisation has devoted much attention to the social impact of automation & expects this field to remain at the forefront of its preoccupations for many yrs to come. AA.