Artificial Intelligence,Labor-Capital Relations and Labor Income Share
In recent years,the rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into production processes has significantly impacted the labor market,influencing labor income distribution and drawing considerable attention from the academic community. However,much of the current research lacks an empirical analysis grounded in Marxist political economics. Marx's theories on productivity and production relations offer a valuable framework for analyzing the effects of AI on the labor income share.This study aims to bridge this gap by examining the mechanisms and hypotheses of AI's impact on labor income share through the lenses of productivity and production relations. Using balanced panel data from 59 countries covering the period from 2001 to 2019,and employing the panel vector autoregression (PVAR) model,the findings reveal three key insights:First,the technological attributes of AI reduce labor income share by intensifying the labor displacement effect through improvements in capital composition. However,AI also positively influences labor income by creating new employment opportunities. Second,AI,when combined with the increasing use of traditional capital,affects labor income share,especially in developing countries or regions with low AI adoption. In such contexts,higher AI usage has a marked negative effect on labor income share. Third,AI also impacts labor income by altering labor-management relations. In developing countries,AI use can strengthen labor's bargaining power,thereby increasing the share of labor income.This study provides two main contributions to the literature:First,it establishes a comprehensive framework for analyzing AI's effects on both productivity and production relations and their combined influence on labor income share. Previous research primarily focuses on one dimension—either productivity or production relations—while this study integrates both aspects. Second,this study advances the quantitative analysis of Marxist political economics. In an era of abundant economic data and advanced econometric methods,applying these tools to explore contemporary issues in Marxist theory represents a pathway toward modernizing the Marxism.This research expands the theoretical perspective of Marxist political economics regarding AI's impact on labor income share,offering new insights into how AI development creates both challenges and opportunities for employment and income distribution. Moreover,it contributes to ongoing discussions about the economic and social effects of AI,emphasizing the importance of empirical research within the political economy.
artificial intelligencelabor-capital relationslabor income shareorganic composition of capitalbargaining power of labornew quality productivity
万方数据
维普
