Over at Asia Watch, Rip has posted a very interesting link about the effect of sleep deprivation on the Japanese economy.

The Japanese are known for their long work hours but a new study estimates that sleep deprivation costs their economy 3.5 trillion yen (30.7 billion dollars) a year, mainly in lost productivity.

The study surveyed 3,075 employees of a chemical company in the western city of Osaka, quizzing them on their sleeping habits and alertness during work hours or while driving, while taking into account salary levels.

It concluded that spending more time on the job did not always translate into increased productivity while a lack of sleep can cause more traffic accidents.

“Many people think that if you sleep less you will have more time to work (and be more productive) but that is a total misconception,” said report author Makoto Uchiyama, professor of Psychology and Mental Health at Nihon University.

What a shocking revelation.