Milena Nikolova

Brookings Institution, International Zinc Association

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Milena Nikolova is a leading scholar at the intersection of labor economics, technological change, and well-being. Her research fundamentally reexamines how automation reshapes the human experience of work, moving beyond simple job displacement fears to explore deeper psychological impacts. Her most influential work, "Robots, meaning, and self-determination" (2024, 48 citations), is a landmark study that provides the first empirical evidence of how robotization affects work meaningfulness, autonomy, competence, and relatedness—the core pillars of self-determination theory. By analyzing survey data across 14 industries in 20 European countries from 2005 to 2021, Nikolova reveals that while robots may boost productivity, they can simultaneously erode the intrinsic rewards that make work fulfilling. Her related work, "Just Another Cog in the Machine?" (2023), further dissects the task-level consequences for individual workers. Nikolova’s contributions are vital for policymakers and business leaders navigating the Fourth Industrial Revolution, offering a nuanced, human-centric framework for understanding the true costs and benefits of automation. Her research has quickly become essential reading for anyone concerned with the future of work and human flourishing.