Should Europe work more, or America less?

In France, the workweek is thirty-five hours; there are twenty-two paid holidays and a six-week vacation. There is universal health care fully paid by the State. This pattern is found in most of Europe, save Britain, and the newest members of the EU. Before you apply for your work permit in Toulouse, be advised however, that the French equivalent of FICA exceeds forty percent and hence French employers will do almost anything to not employ workers but rather they bring them in as contract labor. As a result only about half of French workers are 'employees' for the purpose of enjoying legislated benefits. Economists fret over how to measure true productivity and then compare various countries to each other, but these efforts are not considered very accurate, and the question remains -- which system is better? The IHT takes a stab at an answer. As for me, I'll return to the question after my six weeks in St. Paul de Vence. IHT: Should Europe work more, or America less?