The economic viability of a 4-hour work week is a contentious issue. As per a lecture from MIT, historical trends indicate that improvements in efficiency and productivity have not resulted in a decrease in the workweek. Instead, they have led to an increase in wages and per capita consumption. This implies that a substantial transition …
The economic viability of a 4-hour work week is a contentious issue. As per a lecture from MIT, historical trends indicate that improvements in efficiency and productivity have not resulted in a decrease in the workweek. Instead, they have led to an increase in wages and per capita consumption. This implies that a substantial transition to a 4-hour work week may not be economically viable within the existing capitalist framework, where the pursuit of profit frequently takes precedence over the desire for reduced work hours. Nonetheless, there have been experiments with part-time roles and shorter workdays, suggesting that such a model could potentially be adopted under specific circumstances.
The introduction of AI, particularly Generative AI, is often discussed as a potential game-changer in this context. However, whether it can serve as a panacea for the challenges associated with reduced work hours remains a topic of debate. The concept of Universal Basic Income (UBI) often emerges in these discussions as a potential part of the solution. Critics of UBI argue that it could be prohibitively expensive and could potentially exacerbate poverty. On the other hand, proponents contend that a basic income could help lift millions from poverty and provide a crucial financial safety net.
Thanks for your insights! I agree it's not an easy problem at all. However, what Graeber argues is that the existence of bullshit jobs is an "intentional" attempt to stop the possibility of working less.
The economic viability of a 4-hour work week is a contentious issue. As per a lecture from MIT, historical trends indicate that improvements in efficiency and productivity have not resulted in a decrease in the workweek. Instead, they have led to an increase in wages and per capita consumption. This implies that a substantial transition to a 4-hour work week may not be economically viable within the existing capitalist framework, where the pursuit of profit frequently takes precedence over the desire for reduced work hours. Nonetheless, there have been experiments with part-time roles and shorter workdays, suggesting that such a model could potentially be adopted under specific circumstances.
The introduction of AI, particularly Generative AI, is often discussed as a potential game-changer in this context. However, whether it can serve as a panacea for the challenges associated with reduced work hours remains a topic of debate. The concept of Universal Basic Income (UBI) often emerges in these discussions as a potential part of the solution. Critics of UBI argue that it could be prohibitively expensive and could potentially exacerbate poverty. On the other hand, proponents contend that a basic income could help lift millions from poverty and provide a crucial financial safety net.
Thanks for your insights! I agree it's not an easy problem at all. However, what Graeber argues is that the existence of bullshit jobs is an "intentional" attempt to stop the possibility of working less.