Why do western Europeans work so much less than Americans?

[innonimatu]

I found an interesting paper trying to explain the differences in work hours between the US and Western Europe:

In the early seventies hours worked per person were about the same in the U.S. and in Western Europe (Europe in short). Today they are almost 50 per cent less in Europe than in the U.S. (Figure 1). Americans average 25.1 working hours per person in working age, Italians 16.7, French 18.0 and German 18.7. The average employed American works 46.2 weeks per year; the average French 40.5 the average Swede 35.4. While Americans work today just about as much as in 1970, Europeans work much less. Why?

The paper argues that they are mostly a consequence of labour marked regulations. Europeans enjoy more leisure time, and tend to enjoy it in group. That has increased the enjoyment they derive from it, making europeans more inclined to give up the rewards of work for those of leisure.

It also repeats the old mantra linking GDP per capita and work hours (indeed the authors have recently published a book arguing for greater “flexibility” in the EU labour markets).
However they are also fair enough to make this observation:

We conclude with an intriguing question. Are all these regulations and union policies (and taxation) suboptimal because they distort labor leisure decisions, or do they help solve a coordination problem? If a social multiplier exists because of complementarities in the consumption of leisure, then national policies that enforce higher levels of relaxation can, at least in theory, increase welfare. Perhaps everybody, on both sides of the Atlantic would like to work less but it is difficult to coordinate on a fewer hour’s equilibrium in competitive market where all workers act individually. According to this view, all would like more vacation if their friends, spouses and relatives also had them, but no coordination device is readily available.

Given how there are people from so many regions of the world on this forum I thought the subject might be worth discussing here.
My perspective is definitely a european one: I like my leisure time, and oppose that “flexibility” that is being (unsuccessfully, so far) pushed by several EU governments.

The article is worth reading even just for the statistical data in its appendixes – which, interestingly, shows how difficult it is to find any single cause or simple explanation for the differences.

 

[Rossiya]

We are too busy acting weird, French kissing, polishing, invading each other, cooking good food, and generally being cool.

 

[Godwynn]

If given a choice, I would work a lot more now, so I can retire earlier.

 

[Bill3000]

Because they are welfare states, and thus lazy, obviously.

 

[Pangur Bán]

Because Europeans remember that they're human beings when making labor laws. Or would you prefer I say they're lazy?

 

[Kennigit]

Its just the different social structures. I'm also wondering how productivity comes into play- I know that many Americans at work don't actually do work the entire time. Also, American business loses tons of production to various things, such as smokers taking breaks.

 

[Jawz II]

Cause we don't take no crap.

 

[MadScotsMan]

just 21? Im only getting 25 a week, and most of my friends are around the 40 hours a week range, but I am talking the low skill crap jobs, which I guess arn't included

 

[Fifty]

european answer: because we know the important things in life are wine, sex, and vacation!

american answer: because we aren't a bunch of welfare lovin' lazy-arses, and we don't want our country to have to combine with about 15 other countries just to seem halfway powerful again.

 

[Fugitive Sisyphus]

Americans love money more.

 

[Jawz II]

european answer: because we know the important things in life are wine, sex, and vacation!

american answer: because we aren't a bunch of welfare lovin' lazy-arses, and we don't want our country to have to combine with about 15 other countries just to seem halfway powerful again.

Yeah, Im sure all that power is good. For making you feel powerful.

What?

 

[Abaddon]

Cos the dollar is only worth half as much as our money.. your bound to have to work more

 

[Perfection]

Because noone can stand working in a room with 150 people who don't bathe regularly.

 

[ainwood]

Moderator Action: The little anti-european digs here are unacceptable. Cease them.
Please read the forum rules: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=422889

 

[StarWorms]

Because life isn't all about money.

 

[Agent Cooper]

In the US it seems that the familypattern of the husband working 60-70 hours a week reguarly and the wife taking care of the home and children is still quite widespread. In most of the EU countries (esp. Western/Northern Europe) that is pretty rare - the Mediteranian countries might be the exception. Both parents usually work, but only in the 32-40 hour/week range.

Also as an example, in the US parents need to work more hours if they want to send their kids to college and university. In the EU welfare states, generel education is paid via taxes and you don't have to save up a large pile of money on your own in order for your children to get an education.

 

[Provolution]

I have worked in the US and Norway. The tendency in the US is that people say they work many hours in some sectors, but they actually "work" 60-70 % efficiency at times. If the Americans gained the same economy per hour as Europe, America would be as rich as Luxembourg.

Some places in Norway, the hours are added at home.

 

[bhsup]

I think America is still very much affected by the protestant work ethic and "idle hands are the devil's playground" stuff.

 

[MadScotsMan]

I think the older generations have a better work ethic overall, no matter the country. The whole depression age work ethic is hard to find now

we work lots of hours yeah, but we have solitare!

 

[Slaughter]

And that's why Europe is better. I prefer working there than at USA.