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Overall, [[atheism|atheistic]] societies have tended to have higher rates of sloth and as a result have eventually experienced economic problems (see: [[Atheism and sloth]]).  

Overall, [[atheism|atheistic]] societies have tended to have higher rates of sloth and as a result have eventually experienced economic problems (see: [[Atheism and sloth]]).  

[[File:Sloth-1873.jpg|thumb|290px|right|American [[Yeomen]] farmers hated laziness, ignorance and sloth]]

[[File:Sloth-1873.jpg|thumb|290px|right|American [[Yeomen]] farmers hated laziness, ignorance and sloth]]

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>[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>

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>