Increasing lower incomes and reducing material deprivation: The beneficial role of social robots

Material deprivation and the risk of poverty, exacerbated by recent unexpected events such as the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict, are significant social issues that profoundly affect the lives of numerous individuals. In contrast, social robots represent problem-solving innovations that have the potential to contribute to the achievement of the 17 sustainable development goals established by the United Nations. This paper investigates the association between the adoption of social robots and the risk of poverty, while also establishing the connection between the diffusion of social robots and the proportion of individuals experiencing material deprivation. The study involves a sample of 28 European countries and utilizes statistical analysis of data collected from 2018 to 2021.By taking into account variables such as average income and the unemployment rate, our findings indicate a negative association between the utilization of social robots and both the risk of poverty and the proportion of individuals living in material deprivation. Therefore, our research offers theoretical and managerial implications, serving as a basis for policymakers and managers to make informed decisions aimed at improving the standard of living for the most marginalized individuals.