1. Introduction 1

2. A New Database on Global Hours Worked 6

  2.1. Data Sources 6

  2.2. Harmonization 8

  2.3. Data Coverage 9

  2.4. Seasonality 10

3. Global Hours Worked 11

4. Cross-Country Variations in Hours Worked 13

  4.1. Hours Worked Over the Course of Development 14

  4.2. Industry 15

  4.3. Age 16

  4.4. Gender 19

  4.5. Heterogeneity and Sensitivity to Alternative Specifications 23

5. Long-Run Trends in Hours Worked 25

  5.1. Prime-Age Adults 25

  5.2. Gender 26

  5.3. Young 28

  5.4. Elderly 29

  5.5. Heterogeneity and Sensitivity to Alternative Specifications 29

6. Prime-Age Hours: The Role of Taxes, Transfers, and Regulations 31

  6.1. The Role of Labor Taxes 33

  6.2. The Role of Transfers 34

  6.3. The Role of Regulations 35

7. Conclusion 37