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Long Workweeks and Strange Hours

Author

Listed:
  • Hamermesh, Daniel S.

    (University of Texas at Austin)

  • Stancanelli, Elena G. F.

    (Paris School of Economics)

Abstract

American workweeks are long compared to other rich countries'. Much less well-known is that Americans are more likely to work at night and on weekends. We examine the relationship between these two phenomena using the American Time Use Survey and time-diary data from 5 other countries. Adjusting for demographic differences, Americans' incidence of night and weekend work would drop by about 10 percent if European workweeks prevailed. Even if no Americans worked long hours, the incidence of unusual work times in the U.S. would far exceed those in continental Europe.

Suggested Citation

  • Hamermesh, Daniel S. & Stancanelli, Elena G. F., 2014. "Long Workweeks and Strange Hours," IZA Discussion Papers 8423, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp8423
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    weekend work; shorter hours; night work;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J22 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Time Allocation and Labor Supply
    • J08 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics Policies

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