Larry Liu

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About

Larry Liu examines the intersection of labor, technology, and political economy, with a focus on how automation reshapes work and worker power. His research explores the strategic use of automation by firms, particularly in response to labor shortages and social unrest. In his most cited work, "Pre-Automation: Insourcing and Automating the Gig Economy" (2020, 20 citations), Liu introduces the concept of “pre-automation,” where platform monopolies employ outsourced labor while simultaneously developing in-house automation to replace those workers—a critical insight into the dynamics of the gig economy. His paper "Immigration and robots: is the absence of immigrants linked to the rise of automation?" (2020, 9 citations) investigates the demographic drivers of automation, suggesting that a lack of immigrant labor may accelerate technological adoption. Further, in "Robots and protest: does increased protest among Chinese workers result in more automation?" (2022, 7 citations), Liu links labor activism to corporate automation strategies, offering a novel perspective on the economic consequences of social movements. His work is essential for understanding the political and social forces behind technological change.