Robot Application and Adjustment of Export Product Scope: Can We Have Both Efficiency and Quality?

Abstract

Based on the matching data of China Industrial Enterprise Database and China Customs Database from 2000 to 2015, this paper examines the influence of robot application (RA) on the export product scope (EPS) of multi-product enterprises (MPEs), the influence channels, and the export competition strategies of these enterprises. The research results show that RA has promoted the expansion of EPS of MPEs, and this promotion effect is prominent especially for the export of labor-intensive products, resource-intensive products and for non-state-owned enterprises (SOEs). The adjustment of EPS by RA not only enhances efficiency through productivity improvement effect and cost-saving effect, but also improves quality through emission-reduction effect and product quality effect, which is very obvious in long-quality-ladder enterprises. The RA-expanded product scope covers both old products and new products manufactured in the same industry. Facing fierce competition in the same industry, robot-using enterprises prefer quality competition strategy, which further promotes the expansion of EPS.