Xiaogang He

Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics, Institute of Industrial Economics

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Total Citations

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About

Xiaogang He is an emerging scholar at the intersection of labor economics, environmental regulation, and technological adoption. His research primarily investigates how industrial automation—specifically the deployment of robots—interacts with workplace safety and environmental outcomes. In his most-cited work, "Industrial robots and pollution: Evidence from Chinese enterprises" (2024, 21 citations), He provides groundbreaking empirical evidence that robot adoption can reduce industrial pollution emissions, offering a nuanced perspective on the environmental dividends of automation. Complementing this, his study "Does occupational injury promote industrial robot applications?" (2022, 9 citations) explores a reverse causality: how rising workplace injuries incentivize firms to automate hazardous tasks, thereby linking occupational health directly to technological change. By leveraging rich micro-level data from Chinese manufacturing firms, He’s contributions illuminate the dual role of robots as both a response to labor risks and a driver of cleaner production. Though early in his career, his work has already sparked discussion among policymakers and scholars concerned with the social and environmental implications of Industry 4.0. He’s findings are particularly relevant for developing economies navigating the trade-offs between industrial growth, worker safety, and environmental sustainability.