Achievements of the Royal Academy

An obvious characteristic of economic recovery and prosperity across various countries was the continuous expansion of per-capita income, which had even doubled compared to pre-war levels.

However, the question was whether the actual income of workers in these countries had truly increased. That was probably not the case.

First, they faced longer working hours. The war cost European Great Powers a massive loss of population, and labor shortages prompted certain factories to begin squeezing workers.

Workers' incomes seemingly increased, but the working hours they paid were much longer than before, and when converted into hourly wages, they had actually decreased.

Coupled with rising prices, currency depreciation, and so on, the quality of life and happiness index of the common people were constantly declining.

Standing in clear contrast to these European countries should be the Australasian workers.

Australasia's eight-hour workday was still executed rather firmly; although it temporarily became a ten-hour workday during wartime, workers' incomes were also growing.

The greatest welfare for Australasian workers should be the eight-hour workday, a labor system that not even some later-generation countries implemented.

For Arthur and present-day Australasia, the eight-hour workday was also a relatively suitable working time.

It could both satisfy the nation's demand for production and allow workers and the public to have sufficient rest and entertainment time.

This was also the reason why the Ministry of Civil Affairs had not formulated too many people's livelihood policies up to now.

After all, as long as the eight-hour workday was firmly implemented, the distinction from European countries would already manifest, and the attractiveness to immigrants would naturally rise.

As for those further measures, such as high-proportion medical reimbursement, higher income and subsidies, and fewer working hours, those policies should be left to future monarchs of Australasia to carry out.

For Arthur, his prestige