Michael Lewis doesn't know the difference between productivity and
production. Working longer hours (Sarkozy's aim) could increase
production (or not) but might likely lower productivity. This is not
trivial ignorance.
Gene Coyle
On Aug 10, 2008, at 3:34 PM, raghu wrote:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&refer=columnist_lewis&sid=azEdlWcgsj5M
-------------------------------------------------snip
In case you missed it, Nicolas Sarkozy, the new French president,
has decided that the French need to become more productive. He
eliminated the law forbidding work weeks longer than 35 hours, and
he's making noises about changing the rule that allows unemployed
Frenchmen to turn down job offers that they feel are beneath them
and remain on the dole instead.
More Work
No French person is likely to be required to work more than 35 hours
a week -- that appears to be too much to ask for just yet -- but any
French person who wishes to earn more money may, shockingly, work
for it.
[...]
Of course, it's possible to change a society and to drag it into the
global economic monoculture. Mrs. Thatcher showed how: Break up
collectives and make people feel a little bit more alone in the
world. Cut a few holes in the social safety net. Raise the status of
money-making, and lower the status of every other activity. Stop
giving knighthoods to artists and start giving them to department-
store moguls. Stop listening to intellectuals and start listening to
entrepreneurs and financiers.
Hate Becomes Love
Don't mind that artists and intellectuals hate you -- or even that,
for a time, the entire society seems to hate you. Stick to the plan
long enough and the people who are good at making money acquire huge
sums and, along with them, power. In time, they become the culture's
dominant voice. And they love you for it.
--
Do unto others BEFORE they do unto you!
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