The first hour off work and the rest or recreation that follows is always more important than the next hour off; the second hour is more important than the third and so on. While everyone is different, most have settled at 40 hours working and 128 hours not working. In the past, the average workweek was much longer because of lower productivity. |
The meeting place is usually when needs are met, and a certain amount of desires are satisfied. This affects public policy by giving a better understanding of the cause of the Laffer Curve. If much of your needs are met before taxes are started, then a higher percentage rate of tax is required in the high-income levels. If 50% of your earnings are taken away in taxes, one would be less inclined to work that extra hour since the extra money is just for something wanted, not needed. |
Let’s say that you worked a 60-hour week in 5 days. 40 hours at your full-time job and 20 hours at a second job. It is 11 pm on Friday, and you are exhausted and looking forward to the weekend with the family. Your needs are met and some of your wants. Your normal pay rate is $20 an hour. Your friend calls you up and offers you a 5-hour Saturday job that is highly physical and during the time of a planned family outing to the park. |
Your friend has others that can do it and is giving you first opportunity. Do you take the job? Is the pay a factor? If the pay-rate was $5 an hour, the answer of 99% of the people is ‘no.’ If the pay was $200 an hour, the answer of 99% of the people is ‘yes.’ If your line between yes and no is $50 an hour, what if the offer was $60 and the tax rate for those Saturday earnings was 50%? Do you make up your mind on before or after-tax pay? |
The point here is that everyone thinks economically. More people need to understand how their decisions times everyone makes up the economy. Everyone is at different points in their lives and has different priorities. If someone is in great need of money, they are more willing to take lower pay and those that really need that family time will wait until the price is much higher. |