Cain
12th April 2003, 07:03 PM
This op-ed appeared in yesterday's edition of the New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/12/opinion/12DEGR.html (Reg. Required)
A few snippets:
According to the International Labor Organization, Americans now work 1,978 hours annually, a full 350 hours — nine weeks — more than Western Europeans. The average American actually worked 199 hours more in 2000 than he or she did in 1973, a period during which worker productivity per hour nearly doubled.
What happened? In effect, the United States as a society took all of its increases in labor productivity in the form of money and stuff instead of time. Of course, we didn't all get the money; the very poor earn even less in real terms than they did then, and the largest share of the increase went to the richest Americans.
Working ourselves to death?
The harmful effects of working more hours are being felt in many areas of society. Stress is a leading cause of heart disease and weakened immune systems. Consumption of fast foods and lack of time for exercise has led to an epidemic of obesity and diabetes. Many parents complain that they do not have enough time to spend with their children, much less become involved in their community. Worker productivity declines during the latter part of long work shifts.
And finally a comparison to one of those "socialist" Scandinavian countries:
By contrast, over the past 30 years, Europeans have made a different choice — to live simpler, more balanced lives and work fewer hours. The average Norwegian, for instance, works 29 percent less than the average American — 14 weeks per year — yet his average income is only 16 percent less. Western Europeans average five to six weeks of paid vacation a year; we average two.
None of this is very surprising, but it's the second most e-mailed article from the nation's paper of record today. Norway pulled out the top spot on the United Nation's yearly development index (the U.S. placed sixth). In Sweden, twenty-five percent of workers won't even show up on a normal day. Also in Sweden, mothers get 360 days of paid leave (something like 100% of their normal paycheck), plust another 90 days at (I'm not at all certain) 50%.
Needless to say, the country isn't overwhelemed with welfare mothers popping out children as quickly as possible. In fact, I believe the population trend is moving steadily downard, which is consistent with most Northern European countries.
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/12/opinion/12DEGR.html (Reg. Required)
A few snippets:
According to the International Labor Organization, Americans now work 1,978 hours annually, a full 350 hours — nine weeks — more than Western Europeans. The average American actually worked 199 hours more in 2000 than he or she did in 1973, a period during which worker productivity per hour nearly doubled.
What happened? In effect, the United States as a society took all of its increases in labor productivity in the form of money and stuff instead of time. Of course, we didn't all get the money; the very poor earn even less in real terms than they did then, and the largest share of the increase went to the richest Americans.
Working ourselves to death?
The harmful effects of working more hours are being felt in many areas of society. Stress is a leading cause of heart disease and weakened immune systems. Consumption of fast foods and lack of time for exercise has led to an epidemic of obesity and diabetes. Many parents complain that they do not have enough time to spend with their children, much less become involved in their community. Worker productivity declines during the latter part of long work shifts.
And finally a comparison to one of those "socialist" Scandinavian countries:
By contrast, over the past 30 years, Europeans have made a different choice — to live simpler, more balanced lives and work fewer hours. The average Norwegian, for instance, works 29 percent less than the average American — 14 weeks per year — yet his average income is only 16 percent less. Western Europeans average five to six weeks of paid vacation a year; we average two.
None of this is very surprising, but it's the second most e-mailed article from the nation's paper of record today. Norway pulled out the top spot on the United Nation's yearly development index (the U.S. placed sixth). In Sweden, twenty-five percent of workers won't even show up on a normal day. Also in Sweden, mothers get 360 days of paid leave (something like 100% of their normal paycheck), plust another 90 days at (I'm not at all certain) 50%.
Needless to say, the country isn't overwhelemed with welfare mothers popping out children as quickly as possible. In fact, I believe the population trend is moving steadily downard, which is consistent with most Northern European countries.