abstract: 'An eclectic framework is developed to understand long-term and

  short-term patterns in worktime, and to explain labor market anomalies

  such as the downward inflexibility of the workweek and coexistence of

  underemployment and overemployment. Neoclassical labor demand and supply

  models focus narrowly on monetary cost and individual welfare

  consequences. Post-Keynesian, institutionalist, and radical political

  economy paradigms suggest work hours and institutions regulating its

  adjustment also reflect uncertainty, relative incomes, internal labor

  markets, custom, power, and effort-regulation.

  Work hours have three measurable dimensions-mean duration, variability,

  and dynamic flexibility. Employers seek `''numerical flexibility,'''' and

  households desire minimal conflict with non-worktime activities. If

  irreconciliable, length and allocation outcomes will be determined by

  relative bargaining power. Given evidence of imperfect sorting in labor

  markets according to hours preferences, and that flexible hour

  arrangements favorably affect productivity or personnel cost (an

  `''efficiency hours'''' hypothesis), innovative government policies are

  suggested which would induce firms to better synchronize their aims with

  diversifying employee preferences.'
affiliation: Golden, L (Corresponding Author), PENN STATE UNIV, UNIVERSITY PK, PA
  16802 USA.
author: Golden, L
author_list:
- family: Golden
  given: L
da: '2023-09-28'
doi: 10.1080/00346769600000001
eissn: 1470-1162
files: []
issn: 0034-6764
journal: REVIEW OF SOCIAL ECONOMY
keywords: 'worktime; workweek; work-sharing; work hours; flexible hours; labor

  market; bargaining power'
keywords-plus: 'COMPENSATING WAGE DIFFERENTIALS; UNITED-STATES; HOURS CONSTRAINTS;

  WORKING HOURS; CHILD-CARE; TIME; POWER; PREFERENCES; INEQUALITY;

  EMPLOYERS'
language: English
month: SPR
number: '1'
number-of-cited-references: '128'
pages: 1-45
papis_id: a6938a8b0313695288fbf02adff93891
ref: Golden1996economicsworktime
researcherid-numbers: ', Lonnie/ABF-7000-2020'
tags:
- relevant
- review
times-cited: '27'
title: The economics of worktime length, adjustment, and flexibility - A synthesis
  of contributions from competing models of the labor market
type: Review
unique-id: WOS:A1996UF31100001
usage-count-last-180-days: '1'
usage-count-since-2013: '32'
volume: '54'
web-of-science-categories: Economics
year: '1996'