20 Hour Work Week

[Tetro Kornbluth]

If only we decided to lower our expectations... (Actually this sentence could be said about practically any major issue concerning 'the economy'). And I would add, not just expectations in regards to consumer goods but the lot...

[Tetro Kornbluth]

Opebo, I have to say I greatly admire the rather unique relationship you have with 'reality' (whatever it is. I'm using the common definion). I think it is quite special in a perverse way. Keep up the good work (or something to that effect).

Actually, I'd reckon if we went to a 20 hour week quite a few people would lose their minds with that spare time. But that's just me (I, who worries that should the economy (in Ireland) improve, certain people would begin to lose their minds due to not having anything to talk about any more except the weather).

[Tetro Kornbluth]

many subsistence economies long before our industrial or even civilized age(s) began had "work weeks" much shorter than 40 hours.  of course back then "work" and "life" were not separate spheres.

That is of course true. But what is to be done about it?

[Tetro Kornbluth]

many subsistence economies long before our industrial or even civilized age(s) began had "work weeks" much shorter than 40 hours.  of course back then "work" and "life" were not separate spheres.

That is of course true. But what is to be done about it?

Thing is, no one actually wants to spend their winters shacked up with their relatives in a state of semi-hibernation. As was common in some places as recently as the first half of the nineteenth century, of course. Because that's the sort of thing that's the trade-off for hardly working most of the year (with brief periods of extreme activity). So even if you could do anything about, who would actually want to?

That was sort-of my point. If a 20-hr work week was a totally desirable thing then don't we still have it? (Waiting for the next Opebonomics lecture).

[Tetro Kornbluth]

That was sort-of my point. If a 20-hr work week was a totally desirable thing then don't we still have it? (Waiting for the next Opebonomics lecture).

I thought as much, but 'what is to be done about it?' in that sort of context can be interpreted in different ways.

I was aiming for a quick one-liner.