The American Time Use Survey for 2009 is out. Comparing its results-at a business-cycle trough-to those for 2007 (roughly a cyclical peak) allows for the first resolution of a fundamental question in time allocation/labor supply and macroeconomics: What do people do with their time when aggregate labor demand drops?
Some macroeconomists have constructed beautiful models arguing that much of the reduced market time can be shifted to producing things at home-to household production (child care, food preparation, shopping, home repairs, etc.) that would otherwise have been purchased. WRONG! In this recession, average work time (including school) dropped by 15 minutes a day. Of this drop, 6 minutes went to additional sleeping; and another 6 minutes went to additional TV-watching. The average American actually spent 2 minutes less on household production. The recession didn’t shift work from market to home activities that we think of as productive; the drop in market work went into activities that, at least at the margin, most of us would view as unproductive.
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Could this also indicate that it takes less time to complete home tasks? E.g. Productuvuty at home is actually up, allowing more time allocated to non-productive acivity?
If I understand it correctly, the survey just measures how time is used. It doesn’t measure how many tasks get done. If so, isn’t it a stretch to conclude about productivity?
I don’t know about 2009, but this year I’ve been unemployed and I certainly haven’t been using the time “productively.” I sleep more and read more, which I actually think is a good thing. But most of the time I’d otherwise spend working is spent on the computer–reading the paper, playing games, doing crosswords, looking for jobs, and watching movies. My intentions are good, but I’m basically just a hedonist.
God forbid that any person should get 6 extra minutes of sleep in our capitalist society in the United States. Lack of sleep is actually one of our nation’s public health issues. Surely, extra sleep and TV watching leads to less stressed, and healthier individuals which might result in a higher GDP since less dollars are being spent on the ills associated with lack of sleep. These include, hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, depression and premature death.
In many households, watching tv IS childcare.
The survey also shows that the “average” American worked less than half a day on a typical day in both years. I’m having trouble believing that most Americans are employed at 18-20 hr/wk jobs.
This looks like a classic case of an average that disguises several different modes and therefore means nothing. That makes claims about six minutes more of sleep even more dubious.
I wonder if some of the problem here is that the numbers are US population averages. I’d like to know how working people v those unemployed spent their time.
I have been unemployed for nine years. I echo the above comments in the main. I am one of the most productive people I know and have made millions for my employers, but after dozens of interviews…no luck.
So while I am plotting World Domination, I run an internet business and spend too much time on the Freakonomics website.
For a lot of workers, sleeping a sufficient amount would be a productive use new found time