Is dating a case of economics?

Jan 22, 2008: An interesting article in The Times today (21/1/01)Tim Harford was disussing research used in his new book "Logic of Life: Uncovering the New Economics". Research from speed dating events had revealed that both men and women choose their prospective date based on availability, rather than just looking for "the one". It goes on to give an example of a group of men, who generally didn't prefer overweight women, being faced with twice as many overweight women than usual at a speed dating event. You would expect less 'proposals', but the men indicated to contact the same number of women as usual. Therefore those men who wouldn't normally be seeking an overweight girl suddenly do so because there are less of their preferred type available.

The article has to get this catch-line in

"Short, bald, non-professional and poor? Well, if that's all you've got, I guess I'll take one.."

So, it would appear that, if we were to get rid of all the tall men in the world, women who previously wouldn't date a short man, would soon be flocking to our door.

Now there's a thought!

Full article

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/book_extracts/article3215911.ece

Last updated: 1.39.AM on Jan 22, 2008

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