"The Economics Of Love..."

O.K., class... today I am going to bore you to tears on market transactions concerning an exchange of goods and services  (G&S's)... an exchange of values...  I am not certain that demand and supply curves will be used to illustrate any given point... but they are impressive just the  same... I normally use them in class just to confuse the Hell out of my students...


I like to teach market structures... and how G&S's move throughout the markets... from those who supply them  to those who consume them....


I was covering some material in class one day... about 'barter economies'... those in which G&S's trade hands without the use of currency... so if Farmer A has more wheat that he wants/needs, and another Farmer B has a good that Farmer A desires, the two parties trade goods... and both supposedly are happy...  however, there are all kinds of problems in barter economies... timing, 'coincidence of wants'... many factors...


And if there is a discrepancy in any of those factors... then trade doesn't occur... and no one is happy...


For some reason, I got to thinking about 'Love'... and how it seems to exist in the same environment...

You see someone to whom you are greatly attracted... and you approach that person... You try to convince that person that you have what  he/she wants/needs... and that you value what she/he has to offer... so you set about trying to arrange a transaction...


Of course, there  are ALL kinds of transaction costs... dinner... movies... trips... trinkets and baubles... all designed to manipulate convince the other party that you are the Shiznits what will make everything better for that person (cue chirping birds and glorious sunrise)...

The only problem is... what if the timing isn't right... what if he/she doesn't value your G&S's in the same manner in which you value her/his G&S's... What if he/she just isn't available right now... what if you aren't really available right now???  What if there are some external influences in the market...???


(Cue John Hiatt song as an example of 'external influences'/market dynamics...)

This, unfortunately, is the way things happen... of course, I'm not aware of a song about intervening female body parts... but I am sure that there are....


If the corporate raider comes in... and is able to discount your "Good Will"... you are fucked!!!...  And not in the good way either!!!!


Economics is confusing... it can be difficult...  Love is confusing... it can be difficult... and when the market is all screwed up... it can go right into the crapper...

Just like Love...


ps:  Boot Camp kicked my butt this afternoon...

~shoes~