By Ezra
This post of Matt's on the relative strengths, weaknesses, and textures of the French economic model is worth a read. I've seen some evidence for and against the contention that the French work less in order to spend more time with their families -- it's not at all clear that the causality is quite so simple. Nevertheless, it's indisputably the case that because they work less they end up spending more time with their families, which is the sort of thing you'd think pro-family conservatives would be in favor of. The American economy and the incentive structure that drives it is pretty obviously anti-family, and getting more so. That this doesn't upset more folks is always a surprise to me.
Of course, as it is, I fit much better into the American value system than my writing might suggest. I'm a big fan of my job. I like to work. I like going to work. I get bored when I don't have work. But I don't think all folks feel that way ("Welcome to Initech...just a moment!"). More to the point, even I don't always feel that way. But as it is, my work is flexible. This week, I was sick one day and had a friend in town during the week. It was no problem for me to stay home when I was ill nor leave early to spend more time with my friend. So my vocation ends up coexisting quite well with my family/personal life, but that's because I have a fairly liberal, flexible workplace.
On the other hand, I don't get terribly much vacation throughout the year, and I haven't seen my family in about six months. I mean to go home in May sometime, but if I had four weeks rather than 10 days (I think) of vacation time, I'd be seeing them much more often, as each day of vacation wouldn't be quite so precious to me. That's the sort of thing the French model allows, and I'm not entirely sure what the use of all this GDP, technology, and economic clout is if Americans can't plow some of it into increased leisure time and pleasure. There's a weird megamotivation in the American economy -- usually espoused by the nation's economic commentators -- to work harder in order to contribute more to the country's GDP, as if more hours per week and more productivity per person are inherent goods even if they don't come with higher salaries, more vacation, increased job fulfillment, or any other personal benefits. I've never really understood that perspective, but it seems to be one that the French, for better or worse, don't really have.
