Roper Starch Worldwide conducted a study of 30,000 people in 32 nations to determine how people spend their leisure time. Some of the results, shown in the graphic above, offer some insight as to how we compare with other countries.
Russia was tops in movie rentals, with a rate of 21.1 times a month, which is triple the global rate of 7.7 times. Other nations that ranked high on the list were Malaysia, Czech Republic, and Poland (not shown). One possible explanation for their high rates: video piracy often puts Hollywood blockbusters at discount prices on the streets of these countries mere days after a film's release.
Hong Kong was tops in eating out, surprising, considering the cost of living in the nation. Russians were also the least likely to eat out — possibly because it is too expensive.
Indonesia (not shown) was actually the leader in hosting meals (6.1), followed by Turkey (5.4), and India (3.9). Americans, with a rate of 1.8 times per month, are far less likely to invite friends and family over to share a meal. Are we too busy? Are we too antisocial?
How does America fare overall? We are a reasonably hospitable nation, ranking 20th on the list of nations having people over dinner. In spite of Hollywood, we ranked 14th on the list of movie renting countries.
Source: "No Work, All Play?" U.S. News & World Report. 18 June 2001, p. 10; "Hong Kong Eats Out Most, New Roper 32-Country Study Shows." Online. Available: http://www.roperasw.com. March 8, 2002.
1 Data shown come from the Current Employment Statistics (CES) Survey, which provides data on the average paid hours for production workers in goods-producing industries and nonsupervisory workers in service-producing industries. This information comes from employers and is based on payroll records. Another method is the Current Population Survey (CPS), which uses different methodology. It featured a drop in hours too, although a slightly less dramatic one: 40 hours to 39.2 hours.
2 The Harris Poll was conducted by telephone within the United States between June 13-18, 2001 among a nationwide cross section off 1,010 adults. Figures for age, sex, race, education, number of adults and number of voice/telephone lines in the household were weighted where necessary to align them with their actual proportions in the population.
3 The study is based on a comparison of time diary data from two nationally representative samples of U.S. families, both conducted by the Institute for Social Research. The 1980 sample included information on 243 children, and the 1997 sample included information on 2,125 children. The children (helped by a parent if necessary) filled out two time diaries, one each for a weekday and a weekend day, describing what they did, with whom they did it, and who was present. The time diaries include activities parents engaged in with children as well as time spent just being in the same room with them.
4 Chart definitions: Commercial participant amusements consists of billiard parlors, bowling alleys, dancing, riding, shooting, skating and swimming places; amusement devices and parks, golf courses, sightseeing buses and guides, private flying operations, casino gambling and other commercial participant amusements.
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