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Employee-friendly labour time: a key element to a sustainable pattern of production and consumption

Author

Listed:
  • Gerd Groezinger
  • Wenzel Matiaske
  • Verena Tobsch

Abstract

Whereas the preferences of consumers are a cornerstone of market economies, the preferences of employees, e.g., regarding the preferred amount of paid labour, usually are not. However, we have strong evidence that differences between aspired and actually worked weekly hours have a serious negative impact on life, job and health satisfaction. This paper investigates the gap between employees' preferences and the realities by means of the German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP) 2004 data. The central question analysed is, How many hours would one like to work, taking into account that earnings would change accordingly? A majority of German employees desired a reduction and only a small minority preferred an enlargement. By combining both effects, more than 2.4 million additional employees could have been statistically brought into work again, satisfaction would have been improved and consumerism somewhat mellowed. And, since mainly persons with children wanted to reduce their working hours, family life would have gained significantly.

Suggested Citation

  • Gerd Groezinger & Wenzel Matiaske & Verena Tobsch, 2010. "Employee-friendly labour time: a key element to a sustainable pattern of production and consumption," International Journal of Public Policy, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 5(4), pages 357-372.
    • Handle: RePEc:ids:ijpubp:v:5:y:2010:i:4:p:357-372
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Grund, Christian & Tilkes, Katja Rebecca, 2021. "Working Time Mismatch and Job Satisfaction - The Role of Employees' Time Autonomy and Gender," IZA Discussion Papers 14732, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Holtmann, Doris & Matiaske, Wenzel, 2021. "Betriebliche Arbeitszeitpolitiken: Exploration in ausgewählten Frauen- und Männerbranchen Ost- und Westdeutschlands," Working Papers 7, Helmut Schmidt University, Research Cluster OPAL.
    3. Verena Tobsch & Elke Holst, 2019. "Potenziale unfreiwilliger Teilzeit in Deutschland," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 1032, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).

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