Germany also has very generous vacation, 12 months of paternity&#x2F;maternity leave, etc... and their economy is doing just fine.<p>I guarantee if you asked Americans if they would trade their 2.5% (or whatever) economic growth for Germany&#x27;s 1% in exchange for 20 days guaranteed vacation per year, most would say &quot;hell yes&quot;. The people who wouldn&#x27;t take the trade are those rich enough to not need the vacation.