Changes

In the former [[Soviet Union]], a popular joke was that the workers pretended to work and the Soviet Union pretended to pay them.<ref>[http://ipezone.blogspot.com/2015/08/you-pretend-to-work-putin-pretends-to.html You Pretend to work and Putin pretends to pay you]</ref>  A study performed in the former Soviet Union found that over 50% of the work force admitted to drinking alcohol while on the job (See also: [[Atheism and alcoholism]]).<ref>[http://cs.stanford.edu/people/eroberts/cs201/projects/communism-computing-china/workethic.html Communism and computer ethics]</ref> In [[China]], the growth in religion has accompanied China’s fast economic growth over the last twenty years.<ref>[http://blog.tifwe.org/the-protestant-work-ethic-alive-well-in-china/ The Protestant Work Ethic: Alive & Well…In China] By Hugh Whelchel on September 24, 2012</ref>

In the former [[Soviet Union]], a popular joke was that the workers pretended to work and the Soviet Union pretended to pay them.<ref>[http://ipezone.blogspot.com/2015/08/you-pretend-to-work-putin-pretends-to.html You Pretend to work and Putin pretends to pay you]</ref>  A study performed in the former Soviet Union found that over 50% of the work force admitted to drinking alcohol while on the job (See also: [[Atheism and alcoholism]]).<ref>[http://cs.stanford.edu/people/eroberts/cs201/projects/communism-computing-china/workethic.html Communism and computer ethics]</ref> In [[China]], the growth in religion has accompanied China’s fast economic growth over the last twenty years.<ref>[http://blog.tifwe.org/the-protestant-work-ethic-alive-well-in-china/ The Protestant Work Ethic: Alive & Well…In China] By Hugh Whelchel on September 24, 2012</ref>

Western Europeans work less hours than Americans and workers in many other countries.<ref>[http://www.forbes.com/2006/05/20/steven-landsburg-labor_cx_sl_06work_0523landsburg.html Why Europeans work less hours than Americans], ''Forbes''</ref><ref>[http://www.businessinsider.com/average-annual-hours-worked-for-americans-vs-the-rest-of-the-world-2013-8 Check Out How Much The Average American Works Each Year Compared To The French, The Germans, And The Koreans], Business Insider</ref><ref>[http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-18144319 Who works the longest hours?], BBC, 2012</ref>  Commenting on this matter, [[Niall Ferguson]] wrote a 2004 article published in ''The Telegraph'' entitled, "''The atheist sloth ethic, or why Europeans don't believe in work''".<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/3609338/The-atheist-sloth-ethic-or-why-Europeans-dont-believe-in-work.html The atheist sloth ethic, or why Europeans don't believe in work] by Niall Ferguson, The Telegraph, 2004</ref>

Western Europeans work less hours than Americans and workers in many other countries.<ref>[https://www.forbes.com/2006/05/20/steven-landsburg-labor_cx_sl_06work_0523landsburg.html Why Europeans work less hours than Americans], ''Forbes''</ref><ref>[https://www.businessinsider.com/average-annual-hours-worked-for-americans-vs-the-rest-of-the-world-2013-8 Check Out How Much The Average American Works Each Year Compared To The French, The Germans, And The Koreans], Business Insider</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-18144319 Who works the longest hours?], BBC, 2012</ref>  Commenting on this matter, [[Niall Ferguson]] wrote a 2004 article published in ''The Telegraph'' entitled, "''The atheist sloth ethic, or why Europeans don't believe in work''".<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/3609338/The-atheist-sloth-ethic-or-why-Europeans-dont-believe-in-work.html The atheist sloth ethic, or why Europeans don't believe in work] by Niall Ferguson, The Telegraph, 2004</ref>

Niall Ferguson also noted in his article:

Niall Ferguson also noted in his article:

[[File:Flag of Sweden.png|thumbnail|left|200px|In 2014, Sweden's new Social Democrat prime minister Stefan Loefven said, "Sweden is in a serious situation -- unemployment has become entrenched at high levels, school results have collapsed and the welfare system has major shortcomings".<ref>[http://www.afp.com/en/news/new-feminist-government-green-tinge-sweden New 'feminist' government with a Green tinge in Sweden]</ref>]]

[[File:Flag of Sweden.png|thumbnail|left|200px|In 2014, Sweden's new Social Democrat prime minister Stefan Loefven said, "Sweden is in a serious situation -- unemployment has become entrenched at high levels, school results have collapsed and the welfare system has major shortcomings".<ref>[http://www.afp.com/en/news/new-feminist-government-green-tinge-sweden New 'feminist' government with a Green tinge in Sweden]</ref>]]

Aging populations in secular Europe/[[Japan]] and sub-replacement fertility rates is leading to economic stagnation in those regions (see: [[Atheism and sloth#Atheistic societies, low fertility rates and the work associated with raising children|Atheistic societies, low fertility rates and the work associated with raising children]]).<ref>[http://www.forbes.com/sites/joelkotkin/2012/05/30/whats-really-behind-europes-decline-its-the-birth-rates-stupid/ What's Really Behind Europe's Decline? It's The Birth Rates, Stupid], ''Forbes'' magazine,  5/30/2012

Aging populations in secular Europe/[[Japan]] and sub-replacement fertility rates is leading to economic stagnation in those regions (see: [[Atheism and sloth#Atheistic societies, low fertility rates and the work associated with raising children|Atheistic societies, low fertility rates and the work associated with raising children]]).<ref>[https://www.forbes.com/sites/joelkotkin/2012/05/30/whats-really-behind-europes-decline-its-the-birth-rates-stupid/ What's Really Behind Europe's Decline? It's The Birth Rates, Stupid], ''Forbes'' magazine,  5/30/2012

*[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-economy-population-idUSKCN0T113A20151112 Japan targets boosting birth rate to increase growth]</ref> ''Reuters'' reported in 2015, "Japan plans to include steps to raise the birth rate, such as easier access to childcare and tax incentives, in a package of reforms due this month to tackle the biggest bottleneck to economic growth."<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-economy-population-idUSKCN0T113A20151112 Japan targets boosting birth rate to increase growth]</ref>

*[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-economy-population-idUSKCN0T113A20151112 Japan targets boosting birth rate to increase growth]</ref> ''Reuters'' reported in 2015, "Japan plans to include steps to raise the birth rate, such as easier access to childcare and tax incentives, in a package of reforms due this month to tackle the biggest bottleneck to economic growth."<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-economy-population-idUSKCN0T113A20151112 Japan targets boosting birth rate to increase growth]</ref>