Few have ever accused George W. Bush of acting like a Frenchman. But in terms of his holiday habits Mr Bush has much in common with the laid back French. On Thursday he passed an unusual landmark, becoming the best-rested president in US history, with 336 days spent at his ranch in Texas since he came to office.

As he reclines with a good book or builds up a sweat cutting wood in the Texas sun, he may spare a thought for his less fortunate compatriots. Americans workers take less holiday than almost any other employees in the industrialised world. After five years of service at a company the period Mr Bush has spent in the White House an American worker typically gets about 13 days of paid leave a year.