Categories: ECONOMY

Why is America less of a 24/7 society?


It’s deeply odd to me that America is a far less 24/7 hour society today than it was 10, 20, or even 30 years ago. I vividly remember friends from the UK back in 1996 marveling at the fact that in the mid-sized Indiana town where I went college it was possible to buy groceries, clothing, a lawn mower, a snow blower, Lego sets, and bow hunting gear at 3 AM on any given Tuesday of the year. That was peak American Empire, and it’s long gone.

That is from Christopher Kratovil.  What are some hypotheses here?  I see a few:

1. America is older.  True, but this is hardly the main explanation for anything.

2. Due to increasing leisure time, fewer people want to work weird and long hours?  Tighter labor markets and the Great Moderation contributed to this.

3. It is stores that are in decline.  24/7 activity has moved into the warehouse, the fulfillment center, the server farm, the delivery network, and the home.

3b. When you can do Doordash at 10:30 p.m., you do not need to go out for snacks at 3 a.m.

4. Shoplifting has become more common?  If the drug stores have to lock up their wares in NYC, why should stores try to be open at 3 a.m., when presumably shoplifting risk is higher and the quantity of monitoring labor is lower?

5. Online entertainment is much better, so why go out late at night?

6. More work from home means people are not returning from their jobs at late hours and then wanting to buy things.

I would put most of my money on #3 and #5 — what do you think?



Source link

Mainedigitalnews.com

Share
Published by
Mainedigitalnews.com

Recent Posts

Leading from the Inside Out: Identity, Framework, and the Future of Antiracist Theatre

By Nicole Brewer. The Consortium of Asian American Theaters & Artists (CAATA) welcomes Nicole Brewer,…

2 hours ago

The Brett Howden trade was not a mistake

Brett Howden is having the postseason of a lifetime. Yes, you read that correctly. No,…

2 hours ago

ETH Futures Bearish, But Staking, Corporate Demand Show Strength

Key takeaways:While bearish ETH futures trends and spot ETF outflows signal weak institutional appetite, staking…

3 hours ago

Why David Hockney’s 1967 masterpiece is newly poignant after his death

Though A Bigger Splash appears, on its surface, to be a meticulously observed moment in…

3 hours ago

100+ Best Classroom Quotes To Inspire Students (Free Posters!)

We love using inspirational quotes to motivate and encourage students. The power of words just…

3 hours ago

Who Lost the Love Island USA App-Crashing Vote?

Photo: Ben Symons/Peacock via Getty Images Spoilers for Love Island USA season 8, episode 9.…

3 hours ago