The abolition holiday It looks like … it’s in fashion. With the aim of improving the fiscal, French Prime Minister Francois Bairou suggested in July to remove Easter Monday and Niki’s Day in Europe (May 8) from his eleven annual holidays. France – A proposal that has been severely criticized both by public opinion and by personalities from all over the political spectrum.

In such a measure, however, Slovakia was made earlier this year, which followed the example set by Denmark in 2023. Both countries justified the abolition of public holidays with the need for a budgetary “breath”.

On the other side of the Atlantic, US President Donald Trump recently said that there are “excessive holidays” in America, which cost “billions of dollars”.

But are there enough evidence to show that countries with fewer holidays are more productive?

Conflicting elements

“The elements that support this idea are limited,” says Charles Corn, a senior economist at the British company CEBR. “Productivity is less affected by the number of public holidays and more than factors such as work efficiency, capital investment, labor force skills and technology.”

Some studies show that there may be very small GDP increases as a result of the abolition of public holidays. A 2021 study found that public holidays can actually increase demand in some Subcategories of GDP, and that when public holidays fall on weekends and do not replenish, there is a slight increase in GDP.

However, IMF and Federal Bank studies have shown that any increase in GDP would be proportionally much smaller.

In theory, a day of leave means that in that 24 -hour worker’s productivity is zero. It is also argued that productivity decreases in the days before and after public holidays, as many get licenses to maximize their free time.

Although the abolition of public holidays can increase tax revenue, there are arguments that support the opposite position: that is, the days of rest improve the well -being of workers in the long run, which can also positively affect their productivity.

“According to data, when they have no more holidays and holidays, workers are seriously at risk of being exhausted, which can lead to a more general reduction in their well -being,” says Antegale Maye, a policy and research analyst at Washington in Washington.

Holidays and licenses with remuneration

The debate on holidays is part of a wider context around the total working hours. Germany, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands are among countries trying to stimulate economic growth by increasing working hours.

But this should not be achieved by the abolition of public holidays. On the contrary, it can be done, for example, with the encouragement of the workforce to work for more hours, as Germany seeks to do. This tactic usually causes much less reactions than the idea of ​​abolishing national holidays.

According to a 2020 study, if one adds the holidays and statutory remuneration licenses, most OECD countries give employees 30 to 36 days of leave per year.

The US as an exception

Some of the countries with most days, such as Austria (38), Denmark (36) and Finland (36), also have one of the highest GDP per capita in the world.

The US is the only OECD country that has no statutory license. It has 11 public holidays, but according to Maye, in many sectors, such as retailing, tourism and transport, workers continue to work, as remuneration licenses are not guaranteed.

The expert points out that all other OECD countries offer institutionalized licenses without having harmful consequences for their economy. “These economies are doing well, while recognizing the right to rest,” he explains.

This is also one of the main arguments against Trump’s position that the US has “too many holidays”. “The problem in the US was never that the citizens are there a little working,” Mayee adds. “The question is to create an economy where all workers and their families can feel safe, support and be able to prosper.”

Many productivity factors

Charles Corn says that, given the size of the US, the closure of businesses for a day may actually affect the economy. However, it must also be borne in mind that each industry is different.

So, on holidays, some sectors, such as hotel or retail, benefit. In the end, productivity depends on a variety of factors – and not just depending on hours of work.

“If, for example, the Germans worked for fewer hours, but maintained production at the same level, this would not have an impact on the economy. On the contrary, it could be socially and economically useful, as people would have more free time. “

Curated by: George Passas