[zsd]

Preposterous. The inertia holding the 8-hour day in place is due to employers' not needing to change their ways, not due to some imagined environment where businesses compete on how much time is worked.

Were that the case, there'd be such an effect now. Businesses don't seem to be driving 9-hour days. Some lawyers, doctors, and others do work that much, I will grant you that. But they're clearly the exception because they also make good money, had to work hard to become accredited, and generally clearly chose that kind of lifestyle rather than being forced into it.

Sure, you could now claim 8 hours just happens to be the economic equilibrium. But then I invite you to reread this article.

[QAPereo]

Lawyers in particular will happily bill as many hours as they can, generally speaking.

[vostok]

More specifically, partners will happily have their associates bill as many hours as they can.