Objectives: To generate debate in the realm of economic invasion of sexual relationships.
Methods: This study takes a technocratic approach towards the nonstandard economic domains of marriage and prostitution to reveal the inherent economic practices in personal relationships, within the context of sexual intimacy. The study builds upon the original ideas of Gary Becker, whose treatise on the family- written three decades ago- receives critical acclaim in scholastic venues even today. His position is extended to articulate the central focus of this study.
Findings: For the purpose of this research, marriage is taken as a given. It is taken for granted that as all marriages and sexual relationships are voluntarily entered into for better pay-offs. When people as rational agents calculate their actions to augment their resultant welfare, a market in marriages can be presumed to exist. Market equilibrium is satisfied and no one can change mates and become better off. Part II provides an economic take on marriage, sex and the anti-money bias that dominates the respective discourses. Part III elaborates upon the relevant economic theories on marriage markets. Part IV provides a discourse on the reasons behind long-term mate preferences in females. The penultimate chapter is a narrative on marriage as prostitution and the conclusion reiterates the central premise. Realisation that marriage is equivalent to prostitution in economic terms could facilitate the rationalisation of the former and the normalisation and legalisation of the latter.
Improvements/Applications: These events would be a great step in horizontal expansion of economic growth and regulation of the large-scale global prostitution industry.