Did We Work More in the Past?

This ARTE documentary explores the evolution of working hours throughout human history, comparing the work lives of hunter-gatherers to those in industrialized societies and considering future trends.

Key Takeaways:

• Hunter-gatherers may not have worked as much as commonly believed. Anthropologist James Suzman notes their different perspectives on what constitutes “work” versus “leisure.”
• The advent of agriculture led to increased working hours.
• Industrialization marked a turning point, with work weeks exceeding 70 hours. Ökonomin Juliet Schor highlights the shift from “spending” time to “investing” it.
• Labor movements in the West eventually achieved the 40-hour work week.
• The documentary questions whether the dreams of a 15-hour work week will ever be realized and how the history of working time will continue to evolve.