<Averages>

Economists are experts in averages.  When prices are on average higher, people on average tend to buy less. So on, and so forth.

I have spent some time on examining the purposes and significance of a marriage. Serious, the significance of marriage from an economic perspective.  Admittedly, much of the analysis are “borrowed” from earlier pundits.  Yet my analysis was to focus on the change in marriage law over time and across jurisdictions.  Even today, I am very satisfied with my work.

And because of this topic, I was almost unable to finish my master degree. At the end of day, I went 96 straight hours of work to complete my work, spending three nights in the computer centre. At the end of the day, I realize, deeply, that my probability of NOT getting marriage would be 99.9%. I don’t hope that 0.1% to realize, at all costs.

During my work, I began to understand the significance of marriage, but myself has little appreciation towards it. Yet this does not bound me from being delighted for others’ marriage. Honest, whenever I know someone around me is going to get married, I will have all sorts of irrational exuberance – not because others are teasable, not because someone is going to bury his/her freedom voluntarily.  Rather, this delight stems from the very deep part of my heart, for that people recognize something of utter signifcance, something I fail to appreciate. I cannot deny that financial incentives also play an important role – when all except myself get married, I can get a lot of red packet, even when I become, say, 70.

Marriage is a result of choice.  On average, when people have choices, they will not be worse off. And I believe that when people get married, they will be better off on average. Marriage merges the production functions of two separate individuals. The output of the merge, I believe, is the promise for staying together till the end of the day, something you cannot achieve on your own.

To all brides and grooms.

S