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Revisiting Keynes’ predictions about work and leisure: A discussion of fundamental questions about the nature of modern work

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  • Kaplan, Seth A.
  • Aitken, John A.
  • Allan, Blake A.
  • Alliger, George M.
  • Ballard, Timothy
  • Zacher, Hannes

Abstract

Nearly 100 years ago, economist John Maynard Keynes predicted that, by today, technological advancements would allow the workweek to dwindle to just 15 hours, or 3 hours per day, and that the real problem of humanity would be filling their time with leisure. Although much has changed in the world of work since this prediction, such a drastic change has not taken place. In this article, several industrial-organizational psychology scholars discuss why this is the case. Why do we continue to work as much as we do, and how might that change? More fundamentally, what do these trends, contra Keynes’ prediction, tell us about the nature of work itself? We use this discussion to propose several research directions regarding the nature of work and how it might change in the future. We depict the phenomenon of working hours as multilevel in nature, and we consider both the positive and negative possible implications of working less than we do now.

Suggested Citation

  • Kaplan, Seth A. & Aitken, John A. & Allan, Blake A. & Alliger, George M. & Ballard, Timothy & Zacher, Hannes, 2025. "Revisiting Keynes’ predictions about work and leisure: A discussion of fundamental questions about the nature of modern work," Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Cambridge University Press, vol. 18(1), pages 1-22, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:inorps:v:18:y:2025:i:1:p:1-22_1
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