Marina Adshade, a Professor at the University of British Columbia, sheds light on the complexities of divorce and the cultural perceptions surrounding it. She discusses global divorce rates and their contributing factors. The conversation dives into how communication and evolving aspirations can strain marriages, illustrated through a woman's transformative journey from homemaker to student. Additionally, they examine China's new initiative aiming to lower divorce rates with a cooling-off period, questioning its potential effectiveness in addressing deeper marital issues.

Portugal has a divorce rate of 94% and India just 1%, according to a social media post about divorce in 33 countries that has gone viral. But how are these figures calculated and what do they really tell us about the quality and endurance of marriage? We investigate with guests Marina Adshade, assistant professor at the Vancouver School of Economics and Dr Cheng-Tong Lir Wang of the Institute for the Future in San Francisco.Presenter: Ben Carter Producers: Octavia Woodward and Jon Bithrey Editor: Richard Vadon Production Co-ordinator: Brenda Brown Sound Engineer: Neil Churchill

Joanna Gosling, a divorce mediator, and Marina Adshade, an economics professor, explore the changing attitudes towards divorce. They discuss the economic factors influencing marriage decisions, global perspectives on divorce rates, and the emotional and financial implications of splitting up. The podcast delves into the complexities of divorce, including the impact of neglecting relationships, financial entanglements, housing prices, prenuptial agreements, and societal perceptions.