The 15-Hour Week: Keynes's Prediction Revisited
19 Pages Posted: 14 May 2021
Date Written: May 1, 2021
Abstract
In 1930 Keynes opined that by 2030 people would work only 15 hours per week. As such, this prediction will not be realised. However, expected lifetime hours of leisure and non-market work in the UK rose by 60 per cent between 1931 and 2011, considerably more than Keynes would have expected. This reflects increases in life expectancy at older ages and much longer expected periods of retirement. Leisure in retirement contributes to high life satisfaction for the elderly but building up savings to pay for it is a barrier to working only 15 hours per week.
JEL Classification: J22, J26, N34
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
Crafts, Nicholas, The 15-Hour Week: Keynes's Prediction Revisited (May 1, 2021). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3846253
Do you have a job opening that you would like to promote on SSRN?
Feedback
Feedback to SSRN
If you need immediate assistance, call 877-SSRNHelp (877 777 6435) in the United States, or +1 212 448 2500 outside of the United States, 8:30AM to 6:00PM U.S. Eastern, Monday - Friday.