By BankersBall, 27 July 2006
Every summer, someone invariably brings up the fact that Europeans get so much more vacation that we do in the States. It’s usually chalked up to the fact that Europeans are so much more “chill” about life (the pro-Europe POV), or that Europeans are just lazy (the pro-US POV).
Knowledge@Wharton cite experts with more economically oriented explanations:
- In the US, status = more possessions, more money, more, more more. In Europe, people actually view the ability for long vacations as a sign of status. Says Wharton professor Mauro Guillen “Having fun, or being able to have fun, also is a sign of success and a source of social esteem.” Any Euros care to respond to whether this is true or not?
- European countries provide less incentive to work more hours because of higher marginal taxes. Any explanation about the masses using taxes as a motivation I’m a bit wary about since most people don’t even know how to do their taxes here.
- 9/10 European workers are covered by unions who fought for more vacation (why that versus other benefits is another issue), vs. 2/10 in the US.
How about the fact that Americans as a people aren’t comparable to the people in other countries, because those who come here are self-selecting hard workers who moved specifically to improve their lot?