Maynard Keynes's 15-hour work week

Maynard Keynes's prediction of 15-hour work week, as with economists' prediction, fails to take into consideration the nature of man.If he was content with riding a horse at the speed of 20 miles an hour, a significant improvement from walking and running, then there would be no cars, trains or ships. If he was happy with driving a car, there would be no aeroplanes, allowing cross-continent travelling in under one day.

He wasn't happy having a normal meal in order to subsist - he would yearn for a michelin-starred 17-course menu. Normal garment wasn't good enough, he preferred brands, designers and 'styles'.

Education at primary level where you will know literacy and numeracy in order to live in a modern world wasn't enough for some, therefore the invention of secondary, tertiary, postgraduate education, doctorate and higher doctorate.

He wasn't happy achieving what he could achieve in a 3-hour day.  He either wanted to be ahead or was peer pressured to. If he belonged to an organisation, his employer would require maximum 'output' for their pay. They expect workers to be 'online' at home, during leave and be constantly updated of developments. The key is to not come of the treadmill as otherwise it would be a long way to catch up with others. If he was self-employed, he would be a little bit more lucky as he could choose whether to work less, earn less but enjoy life more or try to enjoy being on the treadmill like corporate workers.

It is human nature to want to be better than his neighbours, hence the league tables, rankings, competitions and playing the systems.

Pay equality

When universities decide to operate like businesses rather than non-profit organisation, what naturally follows is the ethos of workers is changed towards that of profit-oriented organisations.

Survey by Times Higher Education shows up to 10% pay rise for university bosses between 2011 and 2012, the privilege not extended to other workers. At the same time, manual workers at the lower end even became worse off due to the use of private sub-contracters where paid holidays are not permitted and sick leave is unpaid. Furthermore, to enable the lucrative pay packages for vice-chancellors, there has been 'innovative' approaches such as employing research and teaching workers under zero hour contract.

It is a shame that universities' claims of their successes in financial terms such as positive balance, secure financial position and commercialisation prospect should come at a high cost which is the livelihood of the communities in which they are situated and claim to be part of.