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The libertarian argument would be that if government didn’t regulate working hours the number of hours worked vs the amount of pay would be negotiated by the la
by Joeri 9y ago
The libertarian argument would be that if government didn’t regulate working hours the number of hours worked vs the amount of pay would be negotiated by the labor market and you would be free to choose to work fewer hours in exchange for somewhat reduced pay.
The socialist counter-argument would be that under such a system people with few employment options or low skills would be forced to work more hours for the same pay and that it’s the government’s job to regulate a reduction in work hours to improve quality of life.
Neither argument is wrong, in practice you need both systems for different people, but the nature of politics, especially in the U.S., requires a binary choice the net result of which is that everyone works more hours.
- konschubert 9y agoI don't think it's illegal, in any western country, to work part time. So we HAVE the option to negotiate fewer hours, no?
- Joe-Z 9y agoMy experience is that the vast majority of software engineering jobs I see posted require full-time work. What I think would be helpful is getting away from the notion that working 40 hours a week is somehow 'real work' and anything less is for students and housewives or single mothers who can't work more hours. That's a fact that's also reflected in less-than-proportionate pay which you get with may part-time jobs. So yes, while it may not be illegal to work part time, it's just not a realistic option for many people.
- imgabe 9y agoIt is difficult to work part time and get benefits such as health insurance. Since this is a necessity for most people there is no practical option to work part time.
- konschubert 9y agoI didn't consider the health insurance system in the US.
- smileysteve 9y agoTo emphasize the contrast to the parent comment on libertarianism and free market. Government does not dictate that a company can not pay for benefits such as health insurance for part time workers.
- imgabe 9y agoInsurance providers sometimes have minimum numbers of hours required for an employee to be eligible to participate. I have an arrangement with my employer to work only 4 days a week (32 hours), but I was told that going any lower than that would complicate things with regard to benefits. No, government does not "dictate" necessarily, but the current situation in the US with employer-provided healthcare greatly complicates working part-time, to the point that it's not really worthwhile for a business to spend time figuring it out when there are plenty of people willing to work full time.
- BeetleB 9y agoNot sure why you're getting downvoted. I'm more on the socialist spectrum myself, but even I see what you and the higher comment is saying.
- mikestew 9y agoThe commentor is not technically wrong, but practically so. Government might not dictate, but insurance companies will.
- maxxxxx 9y agoYou have the option to negotiate fewer hours but in a lot of places you will go nowhere. I have several times tried to negotiate eight weeks vacation against a pay cut but the response was always complete confusion or something about policy. I guess if you are sought after it may work but for most commodity devs there is not much to negotiate.
- grasshopperpurp 9y agoIf I'm understanding you correctly, you're saying, 'How does the libertarian argument (removing regulation) improve a worker's ability to negotiate.' Is that correct?