Wishing to Work More? Preferences, Constraints, and Hours Worked

Naomi Cohen (), Nicolas Ghio () and Mattis Gilbert ()
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Naomi Cohen: ECON - Département d'économie (Sciences Po) - Sciences Po - Sciences Po - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Nicolas Ghio: ECON - Département d'économie (Sciences Po) - Sciences Po - Sciences Po - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Mattis Gilbert: ECON - Département d'économie (Sciences Po) - Sciences Po - Sciences Po - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

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Abstract: Using data from the French Labor Force Survey, we show that 21.2% of workers experience an hours gap, meaning they work fewer hours than they would prefer at their current wage. This stands in sharp contrast to recent evidence from Germany, where most workers report being overworked. In France, hours gaps are concentrated among low-income part-time workers and remain stable over time. We argue that cross-country differences in labor market institutions - including minimum wage policies, working-time regulations, and unemployment insurance - are central to shaping both realized hours and the distribution of hours gaps. While hours gaps appear inefficient in standard labor supply models, they may reflect constrained-efficient outcomes in the presence of frictions. Understanding the mechanisms that generate hours gaps is crucial for evaluating the welfare effects of hours based policy interventions.

Keywords: Working Hours; Desired Working Hours; Hours Mismatch (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-09
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://sciencespo.hal.science/hal-05270958v1
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