Automation, broadly referring to the adoption of machines and computers in the production process has become increasingly more popular across many sectors and countries. For example, the market for industrial robots has experienced a dramatic expansion in the last couple of decades, as shown in Figure 1. At the same time, the prices of labour and robots have been changing. The case of the US manufacturing sector in the last few decades is shown in Figure 2. Now, consider Bruno, who owns a small manufacturing firm and produces windscreens for automobiles. Currently Bruno uses two robots and ten workers including Angela in his production.

Figure 1 Annual shipments of industrial robots worldwide (thousand 484 units) 204 141 714 81 Source: Modified from Exhibit 2, Mckinsey & Company. 200OF 2006 2010 2015 18F 1OF 2OF 2021F Industrial Robotics: Insights into the Sector's Future Growth Dynamics, July 2019. Note: Forecast 2018-2021Figure 2: Robot prices and 220 Labor costs labour compensation in 200 180 manufacturing in the US 160 (1990=100) 140 120 100 Source: Tilley, Jonathan, "Automation, 80 Robotics, and the Factory of the Future", 60 September 7, 2017, Mckinsey & Company. 40 Robot prices 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010