Knowledge, robots and productivity in SMEs: Explaining the second digital wave

Abstract

This study provides new insights into the link among knowledge, industrial robotics and labor productivity by testing 12 hypotheses on samples of 1,515 and 1,380 Spanish manufacturing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in 2008 and 2015. Our research has resulted in four main statements: Firsty, robotic devices are associated with better performance, higher productivity and employment rates, as well as with a more knowledge-intensive value process. Secondly, in 2015, robotics accounted for a 5% increase of SME productivity level (2% in 2008). Thirdly, between 2008 and 2015, SME labor productivity models have progressively granted greater relevance to multi-factor productivity components (knowledge flows and the use of robotics) and human capital. Finally, robot use has generated new complementarity relationships among the explanatory factors of labour productivity. In already-robotized SMEs, the knowledge spillover relates with more favorable effects of capital deepening and exports and to human capital in the non-robotized SMEs.