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The E↵ect of Working Hours on Health

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  • Inés Berniell
  • Jan Bietenbeck

Abstract

Does working time a↵ect workers’ health? We study this question in the context of a French reform which reduced the standard workweek from 39 to 35 hours, at constant earnings. Our empirical analysis exploits arguably exogenous variation in the reduction of working time across employers, which was driven by the institutional features of the reform. We find that shorter working hours reduce smoking and increase self-reported health, and that these impacts are concentrated among blue-collar workers. In contrast, white-collar workers’ body mass index decreases with reduced working time.

Suggested Citation

  • Inés Berniell & Jan Bietenbeck, 2019. "The E↵ect of Working Hours on Health," Asociación Argentina de Economía Política: Working Papers 4210, Asociación Argentina de Economía Política.
    • Handle: RePEc:aep:anales:4210
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    working hours; health; smoking; BMI;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior

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