New GDP and hours-worked statistics prove that productivity increases
We recently unearthed a 2009 study reporting that people work an average of 1,902 hours per year.
But people in France work over 300 less hours per year than the average—well over an hour less per workday! Does this affect the country’s bottom line? No, France has a GDP/Capita/Hour of $25.10 ($36,500 GDP/Capita working 1,453 hours per year); while Americans achieve 50 cents less per hour ($24.60 GDP/Capita/Hour calculated by $44,150 GDP/Capita working 1,792 hours per year).
Just a simple reminder that all the suggestions we make for happiness—taking time for yourself and your development, sleeping and resting, taking work breaks—can and do translate into concrete gains. Is there an ROI on happiness? It looks like there might be.