[Symbiote]

Is the American developer happier in life than the Finn? Do they have time to enjoy all that extra money?

The 40 hours is averaged over several weeks (normally). You can have an extra 3 hours, but leave work at lunchtime the next day.

[treis]

The American developer can retire in 1/3 to 1/2 the time of the Finn. And yes, I'd say working a bit more for that is an obvious yes.

[bvcvbuiy]

The obsession of American developers with retirement tells a lot about what they think about their jobs.

[treis]

As if 95% of Europeans wouldn't quit their job tomorrow if they won the lottery.

[bonzini]

Winning the lottery is not the same thing as not having a work-life balance for 30 years (I don't know anyone who retired before 55).

[drstewart]

>The obsession of American developers with retirement tells a lot about what they think about their jobs.

Funny how Europeans are crowing in this thread about how Americans need unions for better pay, but when Americans say they have better pay Europeans just say Americans are obsessed with money.

The obsession with Americans tells a lot about what Europeans think of their system

[bvcvbuiy]

The people who mention unions have in mind better rights for employees not better pay (no one seriously thinks SV developers need better salaries).

[lostlogin]

I think you have replied to the wrong comment.

[gorbachev]

It depends.

You can't, if:

1. you have a chronic illness that requires a good healthcare plan to be treated affordably

2. you have a large family

3. your student debt is larger than average

4. you have a large mortgage

5. your have other financial liabilities you can't afford to handle without good paying job

6. you have no retirement savings or they are insufficient

Items 1, 2, 3 and 6 are non-issues in Scandinavian countries.

[efdee]

Are you saying American developers retire around 40-50yo?