Media inquiries: Véronique Rodman
vrodman@aei.org (202.862.4870)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 27, 2007

As this year's September 3, 2007 Labor Day nears, three AEI scholars offer their views on the state of the American worker:

AEI Senior Fellow Karlyn Bowman reports that in Gallup's latest data, 43 percent of employed people were completely satisfied with their jobs, and another 47 percent were somewhat satisfied. Fifty-four percent were completely satisfied and 27 percent somewhat satisfied with vacation time. Solid majorities were satisfied with the amount of work required of them, and separately, with their "on the job stress" and the flexibility of their hours.

Bowman has just released a study on attitudes about work: "The State of the American Worker, 2007." She also recently compiled a study on Americans' perception of their well-being: "Economic Insecurity: Americans' Concerns about Their Jobs, Personal Finanaces, Retirement, Health Care, and More."

Karlyn Bowman is available for interviews and can be reached at kbowman@aei.org or 202.862.5910 (assistant: afoster@aei.org, 202.862-5917).

AEI Visiting Scholar Arthur C. Brooks reports that Americans work more than their counterparts in many developed countries yet take less vacation time, and they appear to be happy about it. Brooks writes: "For most Americans, work is a rock-solid source of life happiness." His two recent articles on happiness and work include "Happy for the Work" and "What Really Buys Happiness?"   

Arthur Brooks is available for interviews and can be reached at arthur.brooks@aei.org or 202.862.5856 (assistant: diana.steinmeyer@aei.org, 202.862.4878).

AEI Visiting Scholar Steven J. Davis has been examining the factors that explain the U.S.-European differences in working hours. These factors include taxes and government spending, restrictions on competition in product markets (for example, limits on the entry and expansion of large-box retailers), the stringency of employment protection laws, and other labor market regulations affecting workers. Two papers he coauthored on this topic are "Tax Effects on Work Activity, Industry Mix and Shadow Economy Size" and "Wage-Setting Institutions as Industrial Policy."

Steven Davis is available for interviews and can be reached at: steve.davis@chicagogsb.edu or 773.702.7312 or 312.961.0405 (mobile).

For additional media inquiries, please contact Véronique Rodman at vrodman@aei.org or 202.862.4870.

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