Europeans take more vacations than Americans, here’s why. : Planet Money : NPR

CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images

CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images

Do you choose to work more and earn more money? Or do you choose to work less and earn more hours? For some people, this is the ultimate economic choice.

Every worker in the EU is entitled to four weeks of paid vacation. No matter how long they have worked for the company. No matter how low the salary. Vacation is a right.

In fact, all of the world’s wealthiest countries, with the exception of the United States, guarantee paid vacation.

according to 2019 ResearchAmong them, the Japanese have 10 days of paid holidays and 15 days of paid holidays; Australia has 20 days of paid holidays and 8 days of paid holidays; Spain has 25 days of paid holidays and 14 days of paid holidays.

This isn’t just a thing in rich countries: Mexico, Afghanistan, Thailand, Tanzania – all of them guarantee paid leave to their workers, at least in formal employment.

In the United States: zero paid vacations and zero paid holidays.

So why is the US an exception? We spoke to several labor economists and historians to find out how Americans differ from Europeans. It was a winding journey, so maybe take some paid time off and hear their thoughts!

Some articles we mentioned in this episode:

This episode was hosted by Sarah Gonzalez, produced by Sam Yellowhorse Kesler, edited by Jess Jiang, designed by Maggie Luthar, and fact-checked by Sierra Juarez. Alex Goldmark is our executive producer.

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