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> We could be working 15-hour weeks, enjoying our free time, and living like people of the future.

France has rigorous 35 hour work weeks and a 78% labor force participation rate.

The USA has 40+ hour work weeks and a 56% labor force participation rate.

The choice is real.

How do you count breaks in both countries? In Germany and Switzerland for example breaks don't count as working so if you have 42.5h you are at least 47.5h per week in the office. Hours per worker might be lower since there are tax-favourable incentives like "mini job" that push it down artificially.

You're not making a like for like comparison. OCED has the US at 78% and France at 81%

https://data.oecd.org/emp/labour-force-participation-rate.ht...

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