The Poverty of Affluence

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Paul Wachtel. The Poverty of Affluence

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The Poverty of Affluence

A Psychological Portrait of the American Way of Life

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A significant reduction in the typical work week would give us leeway to make the necessary changes to achieve a dynamic yet sustainable way of life, reducing the compulsive pressure to grow that threatens the very viability of our planet. It would enable us as well to assimilate the extraordinary technological advances of our era so that their primary impact is experienced as enhancing our lives rather than threatening our jobs. And, very importantly, it would provide a path toward a way of life that was less pressured and harried, more rewarding and enjoyable.

But for reduced working hours to become an accepted and pursued social goal, we will need to address an important challenge: How will we ensure that reduced working hours do not mean a reduced standard of living; that working (say) half as much does not mean having only half as much access to the goods and services the economy provides? There would be little enthusiasm for a shift to shorter working hours if we do not clearly address this issue.

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