nef (the new economics foundation) 21 hours for the 21 st century anna coote head of social policy...
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nef (the new economics foundation)
21 hours for the
21st century
Anna CooteHead of social
policy new economics foundation
October 2010
nef (the new economics foundation)
The vision
A gradual move towards a much shorter working week,
aiming for21 hours as the new standard
to achieve:(1) social justice and well-being for all
(2) a sustainable environment(3) a prosperous economy not dependent
on infinite growth.
nef (the new economics foundation)
How we spend time (1)
Men and women of
‘working age’ spend an
average of 19.6 hours in paid work per
week.Men: 24.5 hrsWomen: 15.4
hrs
nef (the new economics foundation)
Average hours of people in paid work• full-time workers: 37.0 hours• part-time workers: 15.5 hours1 in 5 works more than 45 hours a weekMen and women work differently• Males workers: 86.3% more than 31 hours
27.0% more than 45 hours• Female workers: 55.8% more than 31 hours
9.7% more than 45 hours Shorter hours since the down-turn• 1 million ‘involuntary part-timers’ – up by 400,000 since
Spring 2008. Most are men.
How we spend time (2)
nef (the new economics foundation)
Why do we still work such long hours?To feed, clothe and house ourselves and
our familiesTo get on in life and have ‘enough’To earn a secure futureTo be with others and make friendsTo build identity and statusTo afford what we desireBecause that’s what everyone else
does...
nef (the new economics foundation)
No such thing as a new idea…
In the 21st century
a 15-hour week will suffice,
as we turn instead to “how to use freedom from pressing
economic cares.”
John Maynard Keynes, 1930, “Economic possibilities for our
grandchildren”
nef (the new economics foundation)
Practical examples
UK, 1974: 3-day weekFrance, 2000-8:
35 hour weekUtah State, 2008-9:
4-day weekUK, 2009-2010:
recession emergency measures
nef (the new economics foundation)
LIVING WITHIN ENVIRONMENTAL
LIMITS
ENSURING A STRONG, HEALTHY AND JUST
SOCIETY
ACHIEVING A SUSTAINABLE
ECONOMY
PROMOTING GOOD
GOVERNANCE
USING SOUND SCIENCE
RESPONSIBLY
A principled framework…
…sustainable development
nef (the new economics foundation)
Social reasons for moving to 21 hours (1)More people in paid workLess stressMore control over timeBetter well-being for jobless and overworked
Redistribute paid and unpaid timeFairer shares between men and womenGood for parents and children
nef (the new economics foundation)
Social reasons for moving to 21 hours (2)
Making more of later lifeMore time to careMore ‘free time’
Time to ‘grow the core economy’’ and co-produce well-beingTime to make sense of the ‘Big Society’
nef (the new economics foundation)
Environmental reasons for moving to 21 hours
Get off the consumer treadmill
Work to live, not live to
workMore time
to live sustainably
nef (the new economics foundation)
Economic reasons for moving to 21 hours
Helps to end credit-fuelled
growthTime a key variable in
managing a decarbonised
economyShorter hours plus more women make a more productive
workforce.A more resilient and adaptable
economySafeguards public
resources
nef (the new economics foundation)
Challenges of transition
Impact on poverty – the poorest could be hardest
hitShorter hours could just mean more people do
more overtimeThe ‘lump of labour
fallacy’Against the grain of
business cultureFew incentives for
employersResistance from
employeesRegulation versus
civil liberty
nef (the new economics foundation)
How to make it work?
Necessary conditions for a successful transition, changing gradually over a decade or more…•Achieving shorter working hours•Ensuring a fair living income•Improving gender relations and quality of family life•Changing norms and expectations
nef (the new economics foundation)
Achieving shorter hours
Negotiate small reductions in hours with annual pay
incrementsOrganise working practices to accommodate shorter hoursActive training to fill skills
gapsEmployers costs per-hour not
per-employeeReduce pay gradient
Regulation with flexibility to suit employees
More and better support for self-employed
nef (the new economics foundation)
A fair living income
Fairer distribution of income and wealthA higher minimum
wageImproved state
benefitsSecure, high-quality
health, education and other essential
servicesMore uncommodified
activity and consumption
nef (the new economics foundation)
Better gender relations and quality of life
Flexible working arrangements
Decent childcareMore job-sharing
Limits on overtimeFlexible retirement
Enforce equal pay and opportunity laws
More jobs for men in caring and primary-level teachingMore self-help and mutual
aid
nef (the new economics foundation)
Changing norms and expectations
A national debate about how we use, value and
distribute work and time…
…and how much ‘stuff’ is enough
Raise awareness about the value of unpaid workMore support for unpaid
activities
nef (the new economics foundation)
Changing the unchangeable…
nef (the new economics foundation)
THANK YOU!
www.neweconomics.org
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