World Development Report 2019

Abstract

Work is constantly reshaped by technological progress. New ways of production are adopted, markets expand, and societies evolve. But some changes provoke more attention than others, in part due to the vast uncertainty involved in making predictions about the future. The 2019 World Development Report will study how the nature of work is changing as a result of advances in technology today.

Technological progress disrupts existing systems. A new social contract is needed to smooth the transition and guard against rising inequality. Significant investments in human capital throughout a person’s lifecycle are vital to this effort. If workers are to stay competitive against machines they need to train or retool existing skills. A social protection system that includes a minimum basic level of protection for workers and citizens can complement new forms of employment. Improved private sector policies to encourage startup activity and competition can help countries compete in the digital age. Governments also need to ensure that firms pay their fair share of taxes, in part to fund this new social contract. The 2019 World Development Report presents an analysis of these issues based upon the available evidence.

L’édition 2019 du Rapport sur le développement dans le monde étudie l'évolution de la nature du travail résultant des progrès technologiques. La crainte que l’automatisation et la robotisation ne suppriment des emplois a tendance à dominer les débats sur l'avenir du travail, cependant ce rapport constate que, dans l'ensemble, cette crainte semble être sans fondement.