Wonderful post. I keep missing 'exactly, I echo that' paragraph after paragraph..
As I often say as an Indian living in Europe (Spain) with all the privileges that i will remain grateful for - my work-life balance is a lot of work and I do not think or certainly do not know, if that will be the same for next generation.
I think in short, this note from James Clear's newsletter seems appropriate - "Ambition is when you expect yourself to close the gap between what you have and what you want.
Entitlement is when you expect others to close the gap between what you have and what you want.".
Continue to look forward to more posts/global jigsaws..
Apr 2, 2023·edited Apr 2, 2023Liked by Pallavi Aiyar
Hello Pallavi, that was a very interesting piece, thank you. I'm an Indian living in Paris and I must admit that when I make the comparison between labor rights in France vs. labor rights in India, and work-life balance in the two countries, I do feel like Europe has got it right. It seems to be the last place in the world where your life can be about more than just work, where you have the space to develop your other interests and spend time with friends and family in a way that few can afford to in India without inherited wealth. And my sense is that it is the gradual diminishing of this, the consequence of globalization and this particular extreme stage of capitalism, is what people are protesting against.
I think your point about Europeans today forgetting (or perhaps just not knowing? History lessons tending to leave out important information!) about the same hard work done by their ancestors that got them to where they are today is a very interesting one but the presentation of the idea seems to suggest that Europeans don't believe in hard work, or that somehow it's virtuous for your job to take over your life - I don't think the first is necessarily true, and the second is definitely up for debate in my view. But thanks for making me think on a Sunday morning! Will definitely pick up a copy of your book :)
I agree there is no virtue in excess work...but to be honest, I don't think the French protestors are in danger of that happening! The privileged position that European workers occupy compared to the rest of the world is not because they have superior moral fibre, nor because they are innately more innovative clever & efficient everyone else. Their luck is to have been born in the right countries at the right time in history. In effect, they’ve chosen the right parents. :-) Thank you for reading and commenting. Hope you enjoy the book, if you do pick it up. xo
Hello! It’s not because others are in worst conditions that you shouldn’t complain. I think people are aware of their privilege and they don’t want to lose it!
I’m a Spaniard in my 40’s and I have being an immigrant for 20 years. I just managed to come back home. I think what people are showing without saying it explicitly is the frustration that we are going to live in worst conditions than our parents and even our grandparents. My grandparents were butchers. They worked every day. The only rest was Sunday afternoon. But they managed to retire at a reasonable age with money to enjoy it. Now, we feel that we have made other efforts. Maybe not the same. We were told to study a lot so we will have a good job. But that has never happened and the future is grim. Of course, we are still privileged compared to others and obviously people don’t think about anybody else around, not even the closest neighbors. But we feel that rich people keep getting richer and the rest of us are losing the little privilege that we had that it was to have time off. A side note, the fact that people have so much time off work has created a big industry, tourism and that has its own consequences.
Excellent piece. Educational. Had no idea about Indians now controlling the diamond trade in Antwerp, but am aware of Chinese inroads into historically Italian trade in shoes and weaving.
Thank you Pallavi for this fascinating extract from your book., which highlights the current strains in Europe s welfare state .Social security is now an embedded right in Europe,, but its survival depends on a realistic definition of its limits, something clerarly french workers have a problem with.
But given the effects of globalization, as their societies work themselves out of poverty, welfare will become a part of China and India´s production costs,...
What a lovely extract ! I have been feeling very sceptical about the French protests, without having a clear sense of why. Now you have provided that context.
You have articulated and summed up the exact same topics of many discussions with friends in the recent times. Entitlement and maintaining a status quo on a lifestyle comes as a result of hard work from previous generations and the inability or lack of awareness to understand how a welfare state sustains is baffling.
Unfortunately, I don't think this is the exclusive domain of the Europeans, we are seeing a lot of instances in India )and possibly there in other countries that have seen economic success) where the current 20/30 year olds are okay waiting it out for a perfect opportunity, quit when work becomes 'hard' or 'long hours' and without a thought that they are able to do it today because their parents have worked hard to create the wealth that cushions them. As you said, a lack of work life balance is not what I am advocating, but I fully agree that 'hard work' has become a bad thing now. I remember being grateful for the opportunities I had that allows me lead a semi -retired life now wherein I can pursue my interests.
Totally resonate with your perspectives. The theme of the privileged refusing to change seems ubiquitous. The rightward political turn is an outcome of the desperation to protect that privilege but of course it’s much more complicated than that. I learnt a lot in this piece that will add to the nuance
Wonderful post. I keep missing 'exactly, I echo that' paragraph after paragraph..
As I often say as an Indian living in Europe (Spain) with all the privileges that i will remain grateful for - my work-life balance is a lot of work and I do not think or certainly do not know, if that will be the same for next generation.
I think in short, this note from James Clear's newsletter seems appropriate - "Ambition is when you expect yourself to close the gap between what you have and what you want.
Entitlement is when you expect others to close the gap between what you have and what you want.".
Continue to look forward to more posts/global jigsaws..
Hello Pallavi, that was a very interesting piece, thank you. I'm an Indian living in Paris and I must admit that when I make the comparison between labor rights in France vs. labor rights in India, and work-life balance in the two countries, I do feel like Europe has got it right. It seems to be the last place in the world where your life can be about more than just work, where you have the space to develop your other interests and spend time with friends and family in a way that few can afford to in India without inherited wealth. And my sense is that it is the gradual diminishing of this, the consequence of globalization and this particular extreme stage of capitalism, is what people are protesting against.
I think your point about Europeans today forgetting (or perhaps just not knowing? History lessons tending to leave out important information!) about the same hard work done by their ancestors that got them to where they are today is a very interesting one but the presentation of the idea seems to suggest that Europeans don't believe in hard work, or that somehow it's virtuous for your job to take over your life - I don't think the first is necessarily true, and the second is definitely up for debate in my view. But thanks for making me think on a Sunday morning! Will definitely pick up a copy of your book :)
I agree there is no virtue in excess work...but to be honest, I don't think the French protestors are in danger of that happening! The privileged position that European workers occupy compared to the rest of the world is not because they have superior moral fibre, nor because they are innately more innovative clever & efficient everyone else. Their luck is to have been born in the right countries at the right time in history. In effect, they’ve chosen the right parents. :-) Thank you for reading and commenting. Hope you enjoy the book, if you do pick it up. xo
Hello! It’s not because others are in worst conditions that you shouldn’t complain. I think people are aware of their privilege and they don’t want to lose it!
I’m a Spaniard in my 40’s and I have being an immigrant for 20 years. I just managed to come back home. I think what people are showing without saying it explicitly is the frustration that we are going to live in worst conditions than our parents and even our grandparents. My grandparents were butchers. They worked every day. The only rest was Sunday afternoon. But they managed to retire at a reasonable age with money to enjoy it. Now, we feel that we have made other efforts. Maybe not the same. We were told to study a lot so we will have a good job. But that has never happened and the future is grim. Of course, we are still privileged compared to others and obviously people don’t think about anybody else around, not even the closest neighbors. But we feel that rich people keep getting richer and the rest of us are losing the little privilege that we had that it was to have time off. A side note, the fact that people have so much time off work has created a big industry, tourism and that has its own consequences.
I enjoy a lot reading your mails by the way!
Yes absolutely! Nothing like being born in the right place at the right time 🤣
Especially poignant , dear Pallavi - and how about those same themes for the USA! Rolf
Excellent piece. Educational. Had no idea about Indians now controlling the diamond trade in Antwerp, but am aware of Chinese inroads into historically Italian trade in shoes and weaving.
Thank you Pallavi for this fascinating extract from your book., which highlights the current strains in Europe s welfare state .Social security is now an embedded right in Europe,, but its survival depends on a realistic definition of its limits, something clerarly french workers have a problem with.
But given the effects of globalization, as their societies work themselves out of poverty, welfare will become a part of China and India´s production costs,...
Sacrebleu!
😂
What a lovely extract ! I have been feeling very sceptical about the French protests, without having a clear sense of why. Now you have provided that context.
You have articulated and summed up the exact same topics of many discussions with friends in the recent times. Entitlement and maintaining a status quo on a lifestyle comes as a result of hard work from previous generations and the inability or lack of awareness to understand how a welfare state sustains is baffling.
Unfortunately, I don't think this is the exclusive domain of the Europeans, we are seeing a lot of instances in India )and possibly there in other countries that have seen economic success) where the current 20/30 year olds are okay waiting it out for a perfect opportunity, quit when work becomes 'hard' or 'long hours' and without a thought that they are able to do it today because their parents have worked hard to create the wealth that cushions them. As you said, a lack of work life balance is not what I am advocating, but I fully agree that 'hard work' has become a bad thing now. I remember being grateful for the opportunities I had that allows me lead a semi -retired life now wherein I can pursue my interests.
Totally resonate with your perspectives. The theme of the privileged refusing to change seems ubiquitous. The rightward political turn is an outcome of the desperation to protect that privilege but of course it’s much more complicated than that. I learnt a lot in this piece that will add to the nuance