> The article mentions a correlation between shorter working hours and higher productivity. As always, correlation does not equal causation. Most likely those countries with shorter work weeks are developed countries which have higher output per capita than less developed ones not because working 40 hours a weeks is more productive than working 80, but that utilising a higher level of technology gives superior output.

The article is comparing the UK (long working hours, terrible productivity) with Germany (short working hours, very much better productivity).

It's unlikely that there's much difference in the technology available. And they both surely know about all the modern methods of organising a workplace.

I mostly agree with point 2, but

> We'd spend it doing the things we enjoy (damaging our livers?)

Maybe the reason so many british people drink too much is because they're working too much, and they're (mis)using alcohol to wind down.