Freakonomics Radio
Why Did You Marry That Person? (Ep. 511 Replay)
Jun 29, 2023
Helen Fisher, a renowned biological anthropologist and senior research fellow at the Kinsey Institute, dives into the economics of love and marriage. She discusses how modern dating platforms like Tinder exacerbate assortative mating, which can lead to social inequalities. The changing landscape of marriage, including trends in cohabitation and later marriages, highlights evolving dynamics. Fisher also reflects on historical practices, like the impact of mourning in aristocratic marriages and the shift from prestige to love as the main motivation for marriage.
47:04
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Quick takeaways
- Marriage outcomes are influenced by options available in the marriage market, which extends beyond personal choices of love and compatibility to factors like social standing, wealth, and education.
- Exploring relationships and taking time to understand personal preferences can lead to stronger and more successful marriages, as indicated by the decline in divorce rates and the trend of singles learning about themselves.
Deep dives
The Marriage Market and Economic Factors
Marriage is not only determined by personal choices, but also by the set of people one has met. The marriage market concept suggests that the person you end up with is determined by the options available. Preferences like love and compatibility are commonly associated with marriage, but economists focus on other factors such as social standing, wealth, and education. Historical examples like the London season, an exclusive marriage market, show how institutional arrangements and social hierarchies can influence marriage outcomes.
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