CESifo-Delphi Conference on The Effects of the Digital Transformation on the Workplace and the Labor Market

Advances in artificial intelligence, robotics, and the availability of “Big Data” are changing the world and, in particular, the workplace. It is widely agreed upon that these technologies will lead to an increasing number of tasks, that are so far carried out by humans, being automatized. Many aspects of how this change affects the workplace are to date understudied and yet have a high relevance for decisions of policy makers, the structure of firms, and the well-being of employees. For instance, people increasingly worry that large numbers of jobs in the economy will disappear. While there is disagreement on the exact time scale and on whether there is going to be a massive loss of jobs, it is undisputed that effects on the workplace and the labor market will be fundamental. The CESifo-Delphi Conference Series (organized by CESifo and the Athens University of Economics and Business) will therefore this time bring together researchers from economics and related fields such as business research, data science, and computer science that study the challenges and opportunities arising through the digital transformation for firm organization, labor markets and the welfare state. A key aim will be to build a deeper knowledge about the effects of the digital transformation, to devise potential interventions within firms or by policy makers, and evaluate the effects of these interventions to prepare organizations and their workforce for the upcoming challenges. The keynote lecture will be delivered by Maria Guadalupe (INSEAD) and Catherine Thomas (LSE).