Do people work in Europe?

In Australia, from Xmas to Australia Day, the economy winds down.  But you can still get things done and shops are still open.  Therefore it is not surprising that there is a crisis in the European economy.  The French are mostly on short hours and  significant shops are closed.  They all want short working hours and high standard of living.  Only prostitutes can do that, consistently and historically.  Even then, only when they are youthful when their bodies are still highly desirable and can be used repeatedly.