Germany has responded to falling demand for labour by shortening the working week. The policy seems to have been a success and is about to be extended. http://www.rte.ie/business/2009/1125/germany.html
the irish government has been doing some similar things but on a more aggregrated basis such as encouraging people to take career breaks and so on. I think a more aggressive shorter working week scheme would be a good thing.
It's an interesting one. Would solve a lot of current problems and possibly some more established ones too (a la, Bertrand Russell's In Praise of Idleness). Might need to be mandated by the UN to work, but it could.
I think career breaks, early retirement etc is small beer. Thats really about public service numbers anyway? If its going to be done, it needs to be done big time.
the irish government has been doing some similar things but on a more aggregrated basis such as encouraging people to take career breaks and so on. I think a more aggressive shorter working week scheme would be a good thing.
ReplyDeleteIt's an interesting one. Would solve a lot of current problems and possibly some more established ones too (a la, Bertrand Russell's In Praise of Idleness). Might need to be mandated by the UN to work, but it could.
ReplyDeleteI think career breaks, early retirement etc is small beer. Thats really about public service numbers anyway? If its going to be done, it needs to be done big time.
ReplyDelete