Do industrial robot applications upgrade the global value chain position? Empirical evidence from China

Abstract

This study investigates the impact and mechanisms of industrial robot applications on enterprises' global value chain (GVC) position, by matching data from the China Industrial Enterprises Database and the China Customs Database. It was found that the applications of industrial robots can significantly upgrade enterprises’ GVC position. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the effect varies across enterprises based on their nature, financing constraints, and size. Mechanism analysis indicates that production efficiency, R&D and intermediate product quality improvement are important mechanisms. The conclusions provide valuable insights on how to promote high-quality development of enterprises through stable and effective use of artificial intelligence.