Discretionary Time

A New Measure of Freedom

Robert E Goodin author Lina Eriksson author James Mahmud Rice author Antti Parpo author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Cambridge University Press

Published:21st Feb '08

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Discretionary Time cover

This book explores how much control individuals have over their time, emphasizing the importance of discretionary time in achieving well-being and work-life balance.

In Discretionary Time, the authors introduce an innovative approach to measuring what they term 'discretionary time'—the time individuals have to spend as they wish. Drawing on data from six diverse countries, including the US, Australia, Germany, France, Sweden, and Finland, they delve into the extent of temporal autonomy that individuals experience. This exploration reveals significant variations in how much control people possess over their time, influenced by different welfare systems, gender roles, and household structures.

The book emphasizes the growing importance of achieving a healthy work-life balance in today's fast-paced society. As individuals strive to navigate the pressures of modern life, understanding how time is allocated becomes increasingly critical. The authors argue that well-being cannot be assessed solely in financial terms; the quantity and quality of time available to individuals are equally vital components of their overall happiness and satisfaction.

By providing a comprehensive analysis of discretionary time, Discretionary Time offers fresh insights into the temporal dimensions of human welfare. It challenges conventional notions of well-being, advocating for a broader perspective that includes the measurement of time autonomy. This work serves as a valuable resource for anyone interested in the interplay between time management, social structures, and individual well-being across different cultural contexts.

'Only a group of scholars led by Bob Goodin could be sufficiently intellectually daring to replace money with leisure time as the metric of welfare achievement. In an era in which 'time to stand and stare' becomes ever scarcer, this is a book on the impacts of public policy which really matters.' Francis G. Castles, University of Edinburgh
'Confronting Marx's capitalist 'realm of necessity' head on, Goodin and his co-authors replace money with time as the measure of freedom and ask: 'how much control do citizens of OECD countries have over their allotments of time?' Don't be intimidated by the numbers and tables - the result is a fresh view of cross-national inequities, replete with new recipes for reform.' Stephan Leibfried, University of Bremen and Head of the Research Center for Transformations of the State
'The conclusion of Discretionary Time, an academic text based on a wealth of data from OECD countries, is that most of us have no one but ourselves to blame for our time-scarce predicament. Time pressure, they argue, suggests compulsion.' Financial Times
'The book articulates its argument over roughly 450 pages … Its substantial length and technicalities go unnoticed, partly for the easily accessible language, partly for the neat and rational organization of the argument's frame … case studies … provide a wide and attractive empirical articulation for [the authors'] theoretical framework.' Journal of Economics and Philosophy
'Discretionary Time: A New Measure of Freedom is an interesting work of theory and policy … a notable work.' Political Studies Review
'This is a carefully thought-out and crafted book … with strong conceptual and methodological contributions indeed.' Feminist Economics
'This book makes fascinating reading and invites further questions.' Managing Leisure

  • Winner of Stein Rokkan Prize, International Social Science Council 2009

ISBN: 9780521709514

Dimensions: 227mm x 153mm x 27mm

Weight: 774g

484 pages