Research Project
Appears in 2 stories
Published the analysis triggering this story update
For most of human history, nightfall meant the end of productive labor. The industrial revolution and the electric lightbulb reversed that arrangement, turning overnight factory shifts into a pillar of modern manufacturing. But a quieter reversal has been underway for decades: the share of workers toiling through the night has been falling steadily across wealthy nations, driven by labor regulations, mounting health evidence, and machines that can run in the dark without human hands.
Updated Feb 28
Primary publisher of time-price analyses
For decades, economists have argued over whether life is getting more affordable. A new analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data from 2000 to 2025 shows that while the Consumer Price Index rose 92.6%, average hourly wages climbed 131.1%—meaning workers can buy 20% more goods today for the same hours worked. The finding rests on measuring 'time prices': not what things cost in dollars, but how many hours of labor it takes to afford them.
Updated Jan 30
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