On the auction block.

For those of us who haven't taken that plunge of commitment called wed-lock (all but one yes?), here's some hope that the longer you wait, the hotter, smarter, and shinier your eventual ball-and-chain will be. I've loved game theory since I took econ in high school and our teacher had us play a few games that simulate market behaviors. It's creepy how human behavior can be so crassly, bluntly, and accurately described by the basest of motives. So here's a dismal view of love for all you cynics...

Full article


Extract:
"Your first thought might be that the "strong bidders"—women who (whether because of looks, social ability, or any other reason) are conventionally deemed more of a catch—would consistently win [the marriage] auction. But this is not true. In fact, game theory predicts, and empirical studies of auctions bear out, that auctions will often be won by "weak" bidders, who know that they can be outbid and so bid more aggressively, while the "strong" bidders will hold out for a really great deal."