[casenmgreen]

If you work full-time, you are in most countries penalized by progressive taxation; you pay say 20% on the first NN thousand, and then it moves to 40% or something more on the rest (or on everything, in some countries).

It seems much better to work three to six months per year, and remain in the lower tax bracket, and then have the rest of the year off.

I think this isn't widely recognized, because it if it were, I'd expect a lot more people to work as contractors, so they could work in this way.

[benoau]

It's not widely recognized because you are still netting the most cash by earning the most you can.