Question

Do you think we will ever get to the point where people work only 15 hours a week? Why or why not? Would it actually be a good thing if we did?

Answer 1

ANSWER:

No, I don't think that the economy will ever reach to the point where people would be working only 15 hours a week. Although once it was highly anticipated that the process that the standard working week might be reduced from 60 to 40 hours in rich countries over the first half of the 20th century, however in actual it did not happen. In several decades, the official working week per household has increased; and has not reduced significantly. The main reason is that today most of the people feel that life is less leisured in comparison to the past. The substitution effect states that when people earn money they are less likely to indulge in leisure activities because their time is worth more compared to lower-income person's time at work place. Moreover with less working hours it is difficult to finance the ever-expensive lifestyles.

It would be a good idea if we would all be working only 15 hours a week. Fewer working hours can be an essential indicator of social and economic progress. When people get more free time, and save on costs of child care are likely be happier and healthier in general. Moreover it brings environmental sustainability.