Deling av arbeid, arbeidsløshet og miljøproblemer - en drøfting av noen kortsiktige og langsiktige sammenhenger

Abstract

The aim of the project is to discuss the links between technological development, unemployment, work sharing and some environmental issues. The discussion explores whether reduced working hours in general are likely to generate reduced pollution and other environmental benefits. Although several environmental problems are mentioned, the focus is mainly on greenhouse gas emissions.

The conclusion is that there might be some environmental gains from reduced working hours in the short term, but this conclusion is not robust. In the discussion of the long-term consequences, the importance of technological development is emphasized. Especially in connection with global warming, for example the technological development within new renewable energy production is of special interest. In the literature on endogenous growth the role of the working force and "learning by doing" are emphasized. A simple model with endogenous technological development is used to illustrate that there is a risk that reduced working hours could make reductions of greenhouse gas emissions more difficult.