MARRIAGE HAS BEEN MONETISED AT LAST!

I came across this article in Yesterday's DNation. This is just an excerpt.

Finally, here’s what love, marriage and friends cost


THEY HAVE DONE IT. Economists have finally put a cash value to love, happiness, friendship, and misery according to a report in The Times.

A few days ago, in the first research of its kind, economists in the UK found that regularly chatting to neighbours brings the same level of life satisfaction as earning an extra £40,000 (Sh5.3m) a year.

It’s almost as valuable as a successful marriage, with is reckoned to be bring a satisfaction level worth an additional £53,833 (Sh7m) a year.

However, excellent health beats all of them, as it brings a satisfaction level that is the same as what you get from earning an extra £300,000 (Sh40m) a year.

One of the most surprising findings was that moving in together was worth more than marriage. While marriage is worth an extra Sh7m a year, living together (in “sin” as the men and women of the cloth might say) is worth £82,500 (Sh11m).

Dr Nattavudh Powdthavee, an economist at the University of London and one of the main researchers behind the study, said they were not exactly sure why this was so.

Meeting friends and relatives twice a month is worth £35,000 (Sh4.6m) a year. Meeting them once or twice a week is worth £50,500 (Sh6.7m) a year; and meeting them on most days is worth £63,833 (Sh8.5m) a year.

It gets more interesting. The results also show that people who see less of their friends and relatives also appear to be more satisfied with their marriages. This suggests that social relationships outsides the home maybe a substitute for poor relationships at home.

So we now we have a fairly clear scientific road-map to happiness: Exercise and be healthy; meet your friends and relatives as often as you can (except if you are married); and live in “sin”.

But you also do lose money. Being separated is worth losing £57,667 (Sh7.6m) a year. You lose less when you are divorced – minus £24,500 (Sh3.2m) a year. And it is disaster to be widowed. That one is worth minus £200,000 (Sh27m) a year.

The researchers found that there was little difference between single people and divorcees, probably because both groups tend to live alone.

And the penalty for divorce is lower than for separation, because people who divorce gain some happiness from being rid of an unbearable wife or husband.


Story by CHARLES ONYANGO-OBBO | WHAT OTHERS SAY
Publication Date: 2007/06/21 reblogged here by assidous.

http://www.nationmedia.com