Ben Stein is a lawyer, writer, actor and economist.
Ben Stein, Love Expert?
Maybe! He published a New York Times article on the economics of love, and it makes a lot of sense.
Here are eight of Stein’s concepts.
1. The returns in love situations are roughly proportional to the amount of time and devotion invested. The amount of love you get from an investment in love is correlated, if only roughly, to the amount of yourself you invest in the relationship.
2. High-quality bonds consistently yield more return than junk, and so it is with high-quality love. Stay with high-quality human beings. And once you find you that are in a junk relationship, sell immediately. Junk situations can look appealing and seductive, but junk is junk.
3. Research pays off. The most appealing and seductive exterior can hide the most danger and chance of loss. For most of us, diversification in love, at least beyond a very small number, is impossible, so it’s necessary to do a lot of research on the choice you make.
4. In every long-term romantic situation, returns are greater when there is a monopoly. If you have to share your love with others, if you have to compete even after a brief while with others, forget the whole thing.
5. The returns on your investment should at least equal the cost of the investment. If you are getting less back than you put in over a considerable period of time, back off.
6. Long-term investment pays off. The impatient day player will fare poorly without inside information or market-controlling power. To coin a phrase: Fall in love in haste, repent at leisure.
7. Realistic expectations are everything. If you have unrealistic expectations, they will rarely be met. If you think that you can go from nowhere to having someone wonderful in love with you, you are probably wrong.
8. When you have a winner, stick with your winner. Whether in love or in the stock market, winners are to be prized.
Stein’s combination of love and economics in such a simple, succinct article is inspired.
For more, please read the full article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/13/business/13every.html?em&ex=1216180800&en=313397ee5ad38176&ei=5087%0A
Ben Stein amazes me with his wide range of analytical thinking...Very interesting economical analysis going on here
Posted by: Paul D | February 14, 2009 at 05:49 PM