[natalyarostova]

>where it's in everyone's immediate individual interest to work just a little bit longer, but the end result is that everyone has to work more for the same reward

If everyone is working more, more value is being created in total. So it's not zero-sum. You might then say "Yes, sure, but is working more hours to buy more things really better than a culture where we work less and spend more time eating dinner with our families?", which I would agree with, but is more of a cultural comment than an economic comment.

[lukeschlather]

> If everyone is working more, more value is being created in total.

That's often false. It's very easy to create negative value, and it becomes easier the less you rest. It's also hard to measure when additional work starts creating negative value, so you can easily end up in a downward spiral of productivity as people compete for not just illusory but counterproductive gains.

[natalyarostova]

Hmm, I was going to disagree with you, but as I reflect on my time in Tokyo I have to admit you're right.

[s73v3r_]

"If everyone is working more, more value is being created in total."

That's not necessarily true, and more importantly, even if it is, most of that value is not going to the people doing the actual work.

[toomuchtodo]

Perhaps the social taboo needs to be against the continual enrichment of the ownership class with that additional value being created by everyone working more?