AI and the Labor Market

Question A:

Use of artificial intelligence over the next ten years will have a negative impact on the earnings potential of substantial numbers of high-skilled workers in advanced countries.

Responses weighted by each expert's confidence

Question B:

Use of artificial intelligence over the next ten years will lead to substantially greater uncertainty about the likely returns to investment in education.

Responses weighted by each expert's confidence

Question C:

Use of artificial intelligence over the next ten years is likely to have a measurable impact in increasing income inequality.

Responses weighted by each expert's confidence

Question A Participant Responses

Participant University Vote Confidence Bio/Vote History
Allen
Franklin Allen
Imperial College London Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Antras
Pol Antras
Harvard
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
Too many forces at play - effects likely to be heterogeneous for different high-skilled occupations.
Blanchard
Olivier Blanchard
Peterson Institute
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
this indeed seems likely, in contrast to earlier GPTs
Bloom
Nicholas Bloom
Stanford Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Blundell
Richard William Blundell
University College London
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
Botticini
Maristella Botticini
Bocconi
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Bénassy-Quéré
Agnès Bénassy-Quéré
Paris School of Economics
Uncertain
2
Bio/Vote History
Not sure whether the high-skilled or medium-skilled will be more affected.
Carletti
Elena Carletti
Bocconi Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Danthine
Jean-Pierre Danthine
Paris School of Economics Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
De Grauwe
Paul De Grauwe
LSE
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Eeckhout
Jan Eeckhout
UPF Barcelona
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
While this is possible, it is also uncertain. AI can lead to a decline in the college premium as a lot of routine cognitive tasks are automatized (which may be desirable compared to earnings for the low-education workers) but AI is likely to also generate more superstars
Fehr
Ernst Fehr
Universität Zurich Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Freixas
Xavier Freixas
Barcelona GSE Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Fuchs-Schündeln
Nicola Fuchs-Schündeln
Goethe-Universität Frankfurt
Uncertain
4
Bio/Vote History
Galí
Jordi Galí
Barcelona GSE
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
Garicano
Luis Garicano
LSE
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
There clearly is something new about AI relative to previous "skill biased technological change" - the skills that will be made redundant are non-routine, cognitive skills, as opposed to routine skills.
Gorodnichenko
Yuriy Gorodnichenko
Berkeley Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Griffith
Rachel Griffith
University of Manchester Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Guerrieri
Veronica Guerrieri
Chicago Booth
Agree
4
Bio/Vote History
Guiso
Luigi Guiso
Einaudi Institute for Economics and Finance
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Guriev
Sergei Guriev
Sciences Po
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
Honohan
Patrick Honohan
Trinity College Dublin
Agree
1
Bio/Vote History
Javorcik
Beata Javorcik
University of Oxford
Strongly Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Krahnen
Jan Pieter Krahnen
Goethe University Frankfurt Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Kőszegi
Botond Kőszegi
Central European University
Uncertain
3
Bio/Vote History
La Ferrara
Eliana La Ferrara
Harvard Kennedy Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Leuz
Christian Leuz
Chicago Booth
Uncertain
3
Bio/Vote History
In the past, technological advances often acted as complement for high-skilled workers, increasing their value in market place. Key question is if AI is substantially different from prior technological advance. Unclear in my mind. See also survey below.
-see background information here
Mayer
Thierry Mayer
Sciences-Po Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Meghir
Costas Meghir
Yale Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Pagano
Marco Pagano
Università di Napoli Federico II
Agree
3
Bio/Vote History
Pastor
Lubos Pastor
Chicago Booth
Agree
1
Bio/Vote History
Negative for some, positive for others.
Persson
Torsten Persson
Stockholm University Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Pissarides
Christopher Pissarides
London School of Economics and Political Science Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Portes
Richard Portes
London Business School
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Prendergast
Canice Prendergast
Chicago Booth
Strongly Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Propper
Carol Propper
Imperial College London
Uncertain
4
Bio/Vote History
Rasul
Imran Rasul
University College London
Agree
3
Bio/Vote History
Reichlin
Lucrezia Reichlin
London Business School Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Reis
Ricardo Reis
London School of Economics
Uncertain
4
Bio/Vote History
Repullo
Rafael Repullo
CEMFI
Agree
4
Bio/Vote History
Rey
Hélène Rey
London Business School Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Schoar
Antoinette Schoar
MIT
Uncertain
7
Bio/Vote History
I believe the impact will be highly heterogeneous and it depends on where you set the cut off for "high skilled".
Storesletten
Kjetil Storesletten
University of Minnesota
Uncertain
3
Bio/Vote History
Sturm
Daniel Sturm
London School of Economics
Uncertain
4
Bio/Vote History
Van Reenen
John Van Reenen
LSE
Disagree
7
Bio/Vote History
Van der Ploeg
Rick Van der Ploeg
Oxford
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Even the tasks of higher educated people (estate agents, lawyers, programmers, etc.) can be lightened or taken over by AI.
Vickers
John Vickers
Oxford
Agree
4
Bio/Vote History
Voth
Hans-Joachim Voth
University of Zurich
Uncertain
6
Bio/Vote History
Whelan
Karl Whelan
University College Dublin Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Wyplosz
Charles Wyplosz
The Graduate Institute Geneva
Disagree
2
Bio/Vote History

Question B Participant Responses

Participant University Vote Confidence Bio/Vote History
Allen
Franklin Allen
Imperial College London Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Antras
Pol Antras
Harvard
Uncertain
6
Bio/Vote History
Again, this is too general a statement. Investment in general skills (with a strong technological component) is likely to continue to have high returns. But some specific educational programs (e.g., translation services) will see their returns diminish.
Blanchard
Olivier Blanchard
Peterson Institute
Uncertain
4
Bio/Vote History
yes, people will have to think harder about where the jobs will be.
Bloom
Nicholas Bloom
Stanford Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Blundell
Richard William Blundell
University College London
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
Botticini
Maristella Botticini
Bocconi
Uncertain
7
Bio/Vote History
Bénassy-Quéré
Agnès Bénassy-Quéré
Paris School of Economics
Agree
2
Bio/Vote History
Carletti
Elena Carletti
Bocconi Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Danthine
Jean-Pierre Danthine
Paris School of Economics Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
De Grauwe
Paul De Grauwe
LSE
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Eeckhout
Jan Eeckhout
UPF Barcelona
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Fehr
Ernst Fehr
Universität Zurich Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Freixas
Xavier Freixas
Barcelona GSE Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Fuchs-Schündeln
Nicola Fuchs-Schündeln
Goethe-Universität Frankfurt
Agree
3
Bio/Vote History
Galí
Jordi Galí
Barcelona GSE
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Garicano
Luis Garicano
LSE
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
It is really hard to guide your human capital investments in a world where machines are increasingly "creative" and "skilled". Areas such as computer programming, accounting or advertising will be affected, but not clear what will be the new emergent tasks.
Gorodnichenko
Yuriy Gorodnichenko
Berkeley Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Griffith
Rachel Griffith
University of Manchester Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Guerrieri
Veronica Guerrieri
Chicago Booth
Disagree
4
Bio/Vote History
Guiso
Luigi Guiso
Einaudi Institute for Economics and Finance
Disagree
7
Bio/Vote History
Guriev
Sergei Guriev
Sciences Po
Disagree
8
Bio/Vote History
Honohan
Patrick Honohan
Trinity College Dublin
Uncertain
1
Bio/Vote History
Javorcik
Beata Javorcik
University of Oxford
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Krahnen
Jan Pieter Krahnen
Goethe University Frankfurt Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Kőszegi
Botond Kőszegi
Central European University
Agree
3
Bio/Vote History
La Ferrara
Eliana La Ferrara
Harvard Kennedy Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Leuz
Christian Leuz
Chicago Booth
Agree
2
Bio/Vote History
In near term, this is likely correct, but not clear in long-run. Education and required knowledge will adapt and uncertainty over returns to education likely subside.
Mayer
Thierry Mayer
Sciences-Po Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Meghir
Costas Meghir
Yale Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Pagano
Marco Pagano
Università di Napoli Federico II
Uncertain
3
Bio/Vote History
Pastor
Lubos Pastor
Chicago Booth
Agree
1
Bio/Vote History
Persson
Torsten Persson
Stockholm University Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Pissarides
Christopher Pissarides
London School of Economics and Political Science Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Portes
Richard Portes
London Business School
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
Prendergast
Canice Prendergast
Chicago Booth
Strongly Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Propper
Carol Propper
Imperial College London
Agree
4
Bio/Vote History
Rasul
Imran Rasul
University College London
Disagree
6
Bio/Vote History
Reichlin
Lucrezia Reichlin
London Business School Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Reis
Ricardo Reis
London School of Economics
Agree
4
Bio/Vote History
Repullo
Rafael Repullo
CEMFI
Uncertain
4
Bio/Vote History
Rey
Hélène Rey
London Business School Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Schoar
Antoinette Schoar
MIT
Disagree
7
Bio/Vote History
AI will probably increase the mean return to education but there will be more heterogeneity across fields and across people within a field.
Storesletten
Kjetil Storesletten
University of Minnesota
Disagree
7
Bio/Vote History
High-skilled individuals replaced by AI will find other jobs
Sturm
Daniel Sturm
London School of Economics
Uncertain
4
Bio/Vote History
Van Reenen
John Van Reenen
LSE
Disagree
6
Bio/Vote History
Van der Ploeg
Rick Van der Ploeg
Oxford
Strongly Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Vickers
John Vickers
Oxford
Uncertain
3
Bio/Vote History
Voth
Hans-Joachim Voth
University of Zurich
Agree
8
Bio/Vote History
Whelan
Karl Whelan
University College Dublin Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Wyplosz
Charles Wyplosz
The Graduate Institute Geneva
Disagree
3
Bio/Vote History

Question C Participant Responses

Participant University Vote Confidence Bio/Vote History
Allen
Franklin Allen
Imperial College London Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Antras
Pol Antras
Harvard
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
Blanchard
Olivier Blanchard
Peterson Institute
Disagree
5
Bio/Vote History
to the extent that they eliminate some college level jobs, and potentially allow workers with less education to do more complex jobs, it seems to go the other way.
Bloom
Nicholas Bloom
Stanford Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Blundell
Richard William Blundell
University College London
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Botticini
Maristella Botticini
Bocconi
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Bénassy-Quéré
Agnès Bénassy-Quéré
Paris School of Economics
Uncertain
2
Bio/Vote History
Carletti
Elena Carletti
Bocconi Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Danthine
Jean-Pierre Danthine
Paris School of Economics Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
De Grauwe
Paul De Grauwe
LSE
No Opinion
Bio/Vote History
Eeckhout
Jan Eeckhout
UPF Barcelona
Strongly Agree
9
Bio/Vote History
Inequality between workers (superstars vs rest), but also inequality between labor vs capital income, and profits
Fehr
Ernst Fehr
Universität Zurich Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Freixas
Xavier Freixas
Barcelona GSE Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Fuchs-Schündeln
Nicola Fuchs-Schündeln
Goethe-Universität Frankfurt
Uncertain
2
Bio/Vote History
Galí
Jordi Galí
Barcelona GSE
Uncertain
5
Bio/Vote History
Garicano
Luis Garicano
LSE
Disagree
5
Bio/Vote History
It seems AI is more likely to help less skilled workers get to the level of more skilled ones- everyone can write a decent law memo. IT also seems likely some highly skilled professions will be highly impacted.
Gorodnichenko
Yuriy Gorodnichenko
Berkeley Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Griffith
Rachel Griffith
University of Manchester Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Guerrieri
Veronica Guerrieri
Chicago Booth
Uncertain
4
Bio/Vote History
Guiso
Luigi Guiso
Einaudi Institute for Economics and Finance
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Guriev
Sergei Guriev
Sciences Po
Uncertain
1
Bio/Vote History
Honohan
Patrick Honohan
Trinity College Dublin
Disagree
1
Bio/Vote History
Javorcik
Beata Javorcik
University of Oxford
Uncertain
4
Bio/Vote History
Krahnen
Jan Pieter Krahnen
Goethe University Frankfurt Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Kőszegi
Botond Kőszegi
Central European University
Uncertain
8
Bio/Vote History
La Ferrara
Eliana La Ferrara
Harvard Kennedy Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Leuz
Christian Leuz
Chicago Booth
Agree
3
Bio/Vote History
Using the evidence for automation as a gauge (see below), I agree, though the effect might take longer than 10 years to be substantial.
-see background information here
Mayer
Thierry Mayer
Sciences-Po Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Meghir
Costas Meghir
Yale Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Pagano
Marco Pagano
Università di Napoli Federico II
Uncertain
3
Bio/Vote History
Pastor
Lubos Pastor
Chicago Booth
Uncertain
1
Bio/Vote History
Persson
Torsten Persson
Stockholm University Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Pissarides
Christopher Pissarides
London School of Economics and Political Science Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Portes
Richard Portes
London Business School
Agree
7
Bio/Vote History
Prendergast
Canice Prendergast
Chicago Booth
Disagree
7
Bio/Vote History
Propper
Carol Propper
Imperial College London
Strongly Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Rasul
Imran Rasul
University College London
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Reichlin
Lucrezia Reichlin
London Business School Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Reis
Ricardo Reis
London School of Economics
Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Repullo
Rafael Repullo
CEMFI
Agree
4
Bio/Vote History
Rey
Hélène Rey
London Business School Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Schoar
Antoinette Schoar
MIT
Agree
5
Bio/Vote History
Storesletten
Kjetil Storesletten
University of Minnesota
Uncertain
6
Bio/Vote History
AI cuts both ways for inequality. College premium might fall on average but inequality will increase among high-skilled individuals
Sturm
Daniel Sturm
London School of Economics
Agree
4
Bio/Vote History
Van Reenen
John Van Reenen
LSE
Disagree
6
Bio/Vote History
Van der Ploeg
Rick Van der Ploeg
Oxford
Strongly Agree
6
Bio/Vote History
Vickers
John Vickers
Oxford
Agree
3
Bio/Vote History
Voth
Hans-Joachim Voth
University of Zurich
Uncertain
6
Bio/Vote History
Whelan
Karl Whelan
University College Dublin Did Not Answer Bio/Vote History
Wyplosz
Charles Wyplosz
The Graduate Institute Geneva
Uncertain
2
Bio/Vote History