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The Expanding Workweek? Understanding Trends in Long Work Hours Among U.S. Men, 1979-2004

Author

Listed:
  • Kuhn, Peter J.

    (University of California, Santa Barbara)

  • Lozano, Fernando A.

    (Pomona College)

Abstract

After declining for most of the century, the share of employed American men regularly working more than 50 hours per week began to increase around 1970. This trend has been especially pronounced among highly educated, high-wage, salaried, and older men. Using two decades of CPS data, we rule out a number of factors, including business cycles, changes in observed labor force characteristics, and changes in the level of men’s real hourly earnings as primary explanations of this trend. Instead we argue that increases in salaried men’s marginal incentives to supply hours beyond 40 accounted for the recent rise. Since these increases were accompanied by a rough constancy in real earnings at 40 hours, they can be interpreted as a compensated wage increase.

Suggested Citation

  • Kuhn, Peter J. & Lozano, Fernando A., 2006. "The Expanding Workweek? Understanding Trends in Long Work Hours Among U.S. Men, 1979-2004," IZA Discussion Papers 1924, IZA Network @ LISER.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp1924
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    JEL classification:

    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply

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