The effects from working time reductions on intra-individual time use and environmental impact - a Swedish case study

Abstract: Climate change is causing unprecedented damage to our planet, requiring new tools and accelerated efforts to mitigate the adverse effects. Working time reductions (WTR) have long been proposed as a promising approach, yet first recently it is gaining increasing attention. The environmental effects from working time reductions, with kept wages, are however less studied. This paper adopts a qualitative case study to explore how WTR with kept wages will impact intra-individual intentional time use and consumption in Sweden. This study conducts semi-structured interviews and a digital survey to explore the dynamics and its potential environmental effects. The data depicts more ambiguity than previous studies have assumed. It suggests that individuals in high-income societies might be more likely to create time use rebound effects from WTR with kept income levels. The results indicate that more research is needed to fully understand how WTR affects the environment.