, Columnist
The Global War on Public Holidays Is Far Too Lazy
There are less controversial ways to boost working hours.
Some time off.
Photographer: Anadolu/AnadoluWorries about fiscal sustainability and tepid economic growth are enticing governments to embrace a simple but controversial step: reduce the number of public holidays so employees produce more.
Yet the economic benefit of doing this is marginal. There are better ways to boost productivity and the number of hours worked that would neutralize bitter conflicts about how the economic cake is divided.