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Different but Equal: Total Work, Gender and Social Norms in the EU and US Time Use

Author

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  • Michael C Burda

    (Institut für Wirtschaftstheorie - HU Berlin - Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin = Humboldt University of Berlin = Université Humboldt de Berlin)

  • Daniel S Hamermesh

    (CWGS - Center for Women's and Gender Studies - University of Texas at Austin [Austin])

  • Philippe Weil

    (OFCE - Observatoire français des conjonctures économiques (Sciences Po) - Sciences Po - Sciences Po)

Abstract

Overall, the issue of whether Europeans are lazy or Americans are crazy seems of second-order importance relative to understanding the determinants of individual behavior. Amore useful, scientific approach is to assume that underlying tastes are common to both continents, while technologies, institutions, or interpersonal influences like norms or externalities may differ and evolve differently. The fact that Americans work on weekends or more often at odd hours of the day may simply represent a bad equilibrium that no individual agent can improve upon--and would certainly not wish to deviate from, given what all others are doing. Especially if norms and other externalities are important, one should recognize that the invisible hand may lead agents to places like this.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael C Burda & Daniel S Hamermesh & Philippe Weil, 2006. "Different but Equal: Total Work, Gender and Social Norms in the EU and US Time Use," Post-Print hal-01053588, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-01053588
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://sciencespo.hal.science/hal-01053588
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    Cited by:

    1. Luigi Bonatti, 2007. "Evolution of preferences and cross-country differences in time devoted to market work," Department of Economics Working Papers 0719, Department of Economics, University of Trento, Italia.
    2. Charlene Marie Kalenkoski & Sabrina Wulff Pabilonia, 2022. "Impacts of COVID-19 on the self-employed," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 58(2), pages 741-768, February.
    3. Marina Zannella & Bernhard Hammer & Alexia Prskawetz & Jože Sambt, 2019. "A Quantitative Assessment of the Rush Hour of Life in Austria, Italy and Slovenia," European Journal of Population, Springer;European Association for Population Studies, vol. 35(4), pages 751-776, October.
    4. Hui He & Kevin x.d. Huang, 2013. "Why Do Americans Spend So Much More on Health Care than Europeans?--A General Equilibrium Macroeconomic Analysis," Vanderbilt University Department of Economics Working Papers 13-00005, Vanderbilt University Department of Economics.
    5. Luigi BONATTI & Giulia FELICE, 2009. "Trade and growth in a two-country model with home production and uneven technological spillovers," Departmental Working Papers 2009-13, Department of Economics, Management and Quantitative Methods at Università degli Studi di Milano.
    6. Hui He & Kevin X.D. Huang & Lei Ning, 2021. "Why Do Americans Spend So Much More On Health Care Than Europeans?," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 62(4), pages 1363-1399, November.
    7. Kalenkoski, Charlene M. & Pabilonia, Sabrina Wulff, 2020. "Initial Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Employment and Hours of Self-Employed Coupled and Single Workers by Gender and Parental Status," IZA Discussion Papers 13443, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    8. Bonatti, Luigi, 2008. "Evolution of preferences and cross-country differences in time devoted to market work," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 15(6), pages 1341-1365, December.
    9. Stephen Nickell, 2008. "Is the U.S. Labor Market Really That Exceptional? A Review of Richard Freeman," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 46(2), pages 384-395, June.
    10. Luigi Bonatti & Giulia Felice, 2010. "Trade And Growth In A Two‐Country Model With Home Production And Uneven Technological Spillovers," Manchester School, University of Manchester, vol. 78(5), pages 484-509, September.

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