Paula Szuchman and Jenny Anderson’s new book, Spousonomics, explores how basic economic theory can improve a marriage. They point out that there is a division of labor, incentives, and supply and demand in every relationship and applying economic principles will make things better.

It’s interesting to put marriage issues in terms of economics. As with economics, there are tradeoffs in marriage. This book looks at how we navigate those tradeoffs, from children, career paths, time spent together, to where to live. Sometimes these can be very easy to sort out and other times it can be very difficult.

There is the concept of a marriage bubble. A couple gets way too comfortable and doesn’t take care of their marriage. They have the misconception that the relationship will take care of itself.  When it doesn’t, it will eventually implode.

Then there is the idea of a "moral hazard". The idea that as we get comfortable in our marriages we stop taking care of ourselves and gain weight. The authors suggest going to the gym, lose weight and have more sex.

The book is full of anecdotes about people who just can’t seem to get along.  The couples featured include a cowboy married to a fashion designer, a plethora of high powered lawyer couples and even a grad student, who sleeps with her professor, marries him and then gets mad because he is such a professor. There are perfectly normal couples too.

Some of the big obstacles these couples face are how to ask for more sex, and how to divvy up chores. The book offers simple solutions to these issues that can seem way too complicated. “Just have sex” was the most common advice concerning intimacy issues.

It really boils down to what matters and what doesn’t. “Think at the margin. Think of small changes that make a big impact," suggest the authors.  Just decide not to bug him about the garbage or decide not stay late at the office. They are small changes that certainly can have big impacts.

Tags: spousonomics, paula szuchman, jenny anderson, marriage bubble, moral hazard
Categories: Stuff