To find the answer to the question: «To what extent are Italians committed to work», working hours in Italy, Europe and the Us are compared and analysed to ascertain how they constitute an important element of the occupational model. Once demonstrated that the Italian occupational model guarantees a level of working commitment higher than the Eu average, productivity and per capita production results are examined. The clear loss of advantage of the Italian economy emerges from the comparative framework. The paper concludes by indicating some policy measures on working hours aimed at reorganising workplaces for the recovery of productivity. only subscribers can see the full article

The author examines in this paper four interconnected issues: the ambivalent nature of work flexibility, which on the one hand makes work more precarious yet on the other seems to give greater opportunities for professional growth; the increasing «social recognition» of non occupational activities such as care or voluntary work; and, as a consequence, the prospects of a realignment between working and life times and the requirement for a new organisation of the protection system to provide answers to old as well as new risks and opportunities.only subscribers can see the full article