[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I don't have numbers at hand to back this up, but I am pretty sure that Europeans are increasing their productivity each year faster than Americans are, despite these laws.
[/ QUOTE ]
That's not true.
http://bigpicture.typepad.com/commen...uropean_p.html
Of course, that only matters if you find productivity rates to be of particular importance (they're not).
[/ QUOTE ]
How are productivity rates not particularly important? Increasing productivity is the best indicator of an increase in standard of living in a market economy.
[/ QUOTE ]
Productivity is important, but comparing it between countries is a little dicey. If a country has laws or cultural norms that limit the number of hours worked, then a rational company will make sure that the least productive hours, tasks, etc., are the ones cut out. That will drive up average productivity even if the workers are equally productive.