Juliet Schor, a Boston College sociology professor and bestselling author, discusses the transformative benefits of a four-day work week. She argues that reducing work hours can enhance our happiness, productivity, and even improve social connections while confronting the consumerism that dominates our lives. Schor critiques traditional economic indicators like GDP, advocating for a reevaluation of what truly constitutes well-being. Through innovative models and research, she invites us to envision a future where work serves human needs rather than the other way around.
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insights INSIGHT
Work-Spend Cycle Shapes Desires
Economic incentives pushed employers to demand longer work hours while employees' preferences shifted towards wanting more time but settling for more income.
This cycle of work and spend drives people to desire what they already have rather than what they truly want.
insights INSIGHT
Social Context Drives Spending
Social pressures within communities strongly influence spending habits, often leading to trying to match or exceed neighbors' consumption.
People's spending and saving behaviors are shaped by relative income compared to their social circle, not just absolute income.
insights INSIGHT
Growth Fuels Desire Escalation
Economic growth leads to increased productivity, but society chooses producing and consuming more instead of using gains for more free time.
The continuous pursuit of more fuels rising desires and social pressures, undermining quality of life despite having enough materially.
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After the Gig examines the evolving landscape of work, with a particular emphasis on the rise of the gig economy. It explores the implications of short-term contracts and freelance positions and delves into issues such as income inequality, job insecurity, and the decline of traditional employment benefits. This book investigates the challenges and opportunities of this new economic paradigm.
Plenitude
Plenitude
Juliet Schor
Plenitude challenges conventional economic models and advocates for a shift towards sustainability and true wealth. It questions the relentless pursuit of economic growth, proposing alternatives that prioritize ecological balance and social well-being. The book integrates environmental science, economics, and social theory to create a vision for a more resilient and equitable future. It calls for a rethinking of resource management, consumption patterns, and the distribution of wealth. This book advocates for a new economic paradigm that supports thriving communities and a healthy planet for future generations.
Glittering Vices
Glittering Vices
Rebecca DeYoung
Four Days a Week
Four Days a Week
The Life-Changing Solution for Reducing Employee Stress, Improving Well-Being, and Working Smarter
Juliet Schor
Juliet Schor's "Four Days a Week" examines the transformative potential of a reduced workweek. The book argues that transitioning to a four-day workweek can significantly reduce employee stress and burnout, leading to improved overall well-being. Schor presents research and case studies demonstrating how companies can maintain or even increase productivity with shorter work hours. She explores the economic, social, and environmental benefits of this shift, advocating for a more balanced and sustainable approach to work. The book offers practical strategies for implementing a four-day workweek, emphasizing the importance of careful planning and work reorganization.
The overworked American
Juliet Schor
In 'The Overworked American', Juliet B. Schor examines the paradox of increased work hours despite rising productivity in the U.S. She argues that Americans are working more than ever, often exceeding their European counterparts by hundreds of hours annually. Schor attributes this trend to factors like consumer debt, upgraded household standards, and the structure of the labor market. The book offers insights into the societal pressures driving overwork and proposes reforms to improve work-life balance.
The overspent American
Juliet Schor
In 'The Overspent American', Juliet B. Schor examines the cultural pressures driving American consumerism, where spending has become a social status symbol. She discusses how people compare themselves to higher-income groups and how this affects their spending habits. The book also explores the concept of 'downshifting'—adopting simpler lifestyles to escape the cycle of excessive consumption.
Are we working too much?
“Time is a vital resource for us to connect with each other, to connect with the earth and …to come together in solidarity, to try and fix what's wrong.”
We have accepted the 5 day work week as the status quo—caught in a cycle of working more so we can spend more, just to keep up with the Jones’. But what if there's a better way to live: For our own happiness, the economy, and our planet?
Economist and Sociologist Juliet Schor, has spent decades researching the way we work, and her new book - The Four Day Week - invites all of us to imagine a future where work is restructured to serve human needs, not the other way around.
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