According to a new report from The Guardian, automation is jeopardizing the economic growth of developing nations.
Historically, the manufacturing of apparel, footwear, and plastics, which entails large numbers of workers moving from low-productivity agriculture jobs to high-productivity export manufacturing jobs, has been the main catalyst for economic development in low-income countries.
However, as the availability of machines that can do traditionally human things has increased, the need for low-skilled workers to fill those manufacturing positions has decreased.
So what are developing nations to do, now that manufacturing is no longer a viable way to increase their GDP? The article suggests they,
“find ways of paying for work that promotes energy efficiency, spreads access to renewable energy, make the circular economy work…and manage landscapes that efficiently sequester carbon.”
You can read more about how automation is effecting developing nations at The Guardian.
