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Freakonomics Radio

511. Why Did You Marry That Person?

Jul 21, 2022
Mark Gogné, an economist focused on marriage markets, and Helen Fisher, a biological anthropologist, dive into the intriguing concept of assortative mating. They discuss how economic and social factors influence who we marry, drawing evidence from popular culture like 'Bridgerton' and modern dating apps like Tinder. The conversation highlights the effects of these trends on wealth inequality and social dynamics, illuminating how our romantic choices mirror historical practices and current societal structures. Love may be in the air, but economics plays a powerful role!
46:06

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Long courtships and later marriages contribute to higher success rates, emphasizing the importance of finding the right partner.
  • Assortative mating leads to partner similarities and raises concerns about income inequality and social structures.

Deep dives

The Evolution of Marriage Trends

The podcast delves into the changing trends in marriage patterns over the years. It highlights that people are marrying later in life, leading to more durable marriages with lower divorce rates. Research shows that longer courtships and later marriages contribute to higher success rates in marriages, hinting at the benefits of taking time to find the right partner.

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