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Vacation laws and annual work hours

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  • Joseph Altonji
  • Jennifer Oldham

Abstract

This article reviews the theory and evidence regarding how work hours are determined and the role of employer policies on vacation. The authors discuss possible economic rationales for vacation laws and present empirical evidence on whether they affect annual work hours. The results indicate that vacation laws lead to a substantial reduction in work hours.

Suggested Citation

  • Joseph Altonji & Jennifer Oldham, 2003. "Vacation laws and annual work hours," Economic Perspectives, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, vol. 27(Q III), pages 19-29.
    • Handle: RePEc:fip:fedhep:y:2003:i:qiii:p:19-29:n:v.27no.3
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    Cited by:

    1. Peter Frase & Janet Gornick, 2009. "The Time Divide in Cross-National Perspective: The Work Week, Gender and Education in 17 Countries," LIS Working papers 526, LIS Cross-National Data Center in Luxembourg.
    2. Ali Fakih, 2018. "What Determines Vacation Leave? The Role Of Gender," Bulletin of Economic Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 70(1), pages 1-19, January.
    3. Joseph G. Altonji & Emiko Usui, 2007. "Work Hours, Wages, and Vacation Leave," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 60(3), pages 408-428, April.
    4. Alexander C. Lembcke, 2014. "The Impact of Mandatory Entitlement to Paid Leave on Employment in the UK," CEP Discussion Papers dp1262, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    5. Hairault, Jean-Olivier & Langot, Francois, 2008. "Inequality and social security reforms," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 32(2), pages 386-410, February.
    6. Willington, Manuel & Navarro, Lucas, 2015. "Work hours regulation in a search economy with adverse selection," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 46-48.
    7. Lonnie Golden, 2009. "A Brief History of Long Work Time and the Contemporary Sources of Overwork," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 84(2), pages 217-227, January.
    8. Christopher J. Ruhm, 2004. "How Well Do Parents With Young Children Combine Work and Family Life," NBER Working Papers 10247, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    9. L. Bryan, Mark, 2006. "Paid holiday entitlements, weekly working hours and earnings in the UK," ISER Working Paper Series 2006-52, Institute for Social and Economic Research.

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