Episode 641: Why We Work So Much

Listen 13:11

• Playlist
• Download
• Embed Embed Close embed modal iframe src="http://www.npr.org/player/embed/426017148/426029196" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"> ">
• Transcript

Save this episode to Stitcher: Listen to this later on Stitcher

Economist John Maynard Keynes published an optimistic essay in 1930 called "Economic Possibilities for Our Grandchildren." Keynes thought that by now we might be working just 15 hours a week.

Keynes never had kids. But we talked with two of his sister's grandchildren. Like most of us, they work more than 15 hours. What did Keynes get wrong?

Music: The Losers' "Ghost Wife" and White Arrows' "Can't Stop Now." Find us: Twitter/Facebook/ Spotify/ Tumblr.

Copyright 2015 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.