Comments on: World Wealth Study Finds Interesting Results http://www.careerramblings.com/2006/12/07/world-wealth-study-finds-interesting-results/ Your Professional Development Mon, 06 Sep 2010 09:41:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: mexico-vacation-package.cancunhotelmexicomoonpalace http://www.careerramblings.com/2006/12/07/world-wealth-study-finds-interesting-results/comment-page-1/#comment-4479 mexico-vacation-package.cancunhotelmexicomoonpalace Sat, 08 Sep 2007 14:51:47 +0000 http://www.richdadsays.com/2006/12/07/world-wealth-study-finds-interesting-results/#comment-4479 [...] remarkable site now summon up this analysis http://www.careerramblings.com/2006/12/07/world-wealth-study-finds-interesting-results and give comments [...] Home Contact Us [...] [...] remarkable site now summon up this analysis http://www.careerramblings.com/2006/12/07/world-wealth-study-finds-interesting-results and give comments [...] Home Contact Us [...]

]]> By: MM http://www.careerramblings.com/2006/12/07/world-wealth-study-finds-interesting-results/comment-page-1/#comment-24 MM Mon, 25 Dec 2006 03:14:43 +0000 http://www.richdadsays.com/2006/12/07/world-wealth-study-finds-interesting-results/#comment-24 I've lived in Taiwan, Canada, and Austria but am American by birth and raising. Compared to Austria, Americans definitely work way way harder. And yet they somehow have this backward notion that we're lazy just because we have a higher level of obesity. (Um, could it be that we have a higher level of obesity because we're chained to our desks all day?) The work ethic in Canada is somewhere between that in Austria and America. I have to say, though, that in Taiwan I was utterly worn to the ground by the amount of work that was the norm among my colleagues. I believe a study came out that said that Koreans work on average the most hours a week and the most hours a year--they averaged something like 54 hours a week! Taiwan was above 50 as well. Americans were in the mid-40's and were near the top of the list. I know that it's possible to work many hours a week but not as many a year in total because of vacation time, but not surprisingly, there was a negative correlation between hours/wk and vacation days per year. Furthermore, in Korea, the work week is 6 days! So my overall point is that Americans do have a great work ethic compared to some other countries, but I have to say that they're behind some of the East Asian countries. That's not a bad thing. I get the feeling that the hours the Taiwanese are putting in now (averaging in the mid-50's, 6 days a week) resemble what American workers were doing in the early 1900's. But as was the case in America, it's difficult for a workforce to sustain that level of work ethic and motivation over the course of a century. Workers will become unhappy and demand changes, and so there might also be a trend toward moderation in those Asian countries 50 years from now. Perhaps it's not surprising that those East Asian countries are quickly gaining in wealth. I’ve lived in Taiwan, Canada, and Austria but am American by birth and raising. Compared to Austria, Americans definitely work way way harder. And yet they somehow have this backward notion that we’re lazy just because we have a higher level of obesity. (Um, could it be that we have a higher level of obesity because we’re chained to our desks all day?) The work ethic in Canada is somewhere between that in Austria and America.

I have to say, though, that in Taiwan I was utterly worn to the ground by the amount of work that was the norm among my colleagues. I believe a study came out that said that Koreans work on average the most hours a week and the most hours a year–they averaged something like 54 hours a week! Taiwan was above 50 as well. Americans were in the mid-40’s and were near the top of the list. I know that it’s possible to work many hours a week but not as many a year in total because of vacation time, but not surprisingly, there was a negative correlation between hours/wk and vacation days per year. Furthermore, in Korea, the work week is 6 days!

So my overall point is that Americans do have a great work ethic compared to some other countries, but I have to say that they’re behind some of the East Asian countries. That’s not a bad thing. I get the feeling that the hours the Taiwanese are putting in now (averaging in the mid-50’s, 6 days a week) resemble what American workers were doing in the early 1900’s. But as was the case in America, it’s difficult for a workforce to sustain that level of work ethic and motivation over the course of a century. Workers will become unhappy and demand changes, and so there might also be a trend toward moderation in those Asian countries 50 years from now.

Perhaps it’s not surprising that those East Asian countries are quickly gaining in wealth.

]]> By: Joey http://www.careerramblings.com/2006/12/07/world-wealth-study-finds-interesting-results/comment-page-1/#comment-16 Joey Thu, 07 Dec 2006 19:46:36 +0000 http://www.richdadsays.com/2006/12/07/world-wealth-study-finds-interesting-results/#comment-16 Interesting point John, but I would disagree with you in that hard work has no direct correlation with a person's wealth. Although keeping many variables in mind, a person in a place of privledge is going to do well by working hard, no doubt about it. What about those people that work their bums off in 3rd world countries such as Mexico, Honduras, and El Salvador that get paid pennies for pulling 18 hour days? I don't think that's particularly Club Med, do you? Joey Interesting point John, but I would disagree with you in that hard work has no direct correlation with a person’s wealth. Although keeping many variables in mind, a person in a place of privledge is going to do well by working hard, no doubt about it. What about those people that work their bums off in 3rd world countries such as Mexico, Honduras, and El Salvador that get paid pennies for pulling 18 hour days? I don’t think that’s particularly Club Med, do you?

Joey

]]> By: Owen Bentley was feeling embarrassed - Boyds Blog http://www.careerramblings.com/2006/12/07/world-wealth-study-finds-interesting-results/comment-page-1/#comment-15 Owen Bentley was feeling embarrassed - Boyds Blog Thu, 07 Dec 2006 10:02:38 +0000 http://www.richdadsays.com/2006/12/07/world-wealth-study-finds-interesting-results/#comment-15 [...] Are You One Of The Wealthy? [...] [...] Are You One Of The Wealthy? [...]

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