In 2000, France shortened the legal workweek to 35 hours (from the previous workweek of 39 hours). Hours worked in excess of 35 would require payment of overtime.
a. All other things being equal, how would you expect this measure to change the standard of living?
b. One reason for this change in work hours was to attempt to reduce the problem of relatively high unemployment occurring at the same time as some workers were working long hours. If this measure simply redistributed hours of work among workers, would it change the average standard of living?
c. Are there any other reasons to think that a shorter workweek might benefit the population of France?