Meanwhile, there are not enough service jobs in Europe to put everybody to work. The social benefits paid to the out-of-work increase the tax burden on labor income, which in turn discourages women from full-time work. The leisure trap thus keeps both the best educated and the least educated out of the workplace.

Heleen Mees is an economist and author of a book on European Union law. Copyright 2006 Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org)

Monday, July 3, 2006
European women caught in leisure trap
By HELEEN MEES
PRAGUE
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