The economics of tall and handsome

Now, I’m not a love expert, but judging by the popularity of the various dating shows on TV and radio, and the fact that the Lonely Hearts columns in the papers are ever-full, I think the problem is not that there is nobody for the many somebodys seeking love. From a purely demand-supply, point of view, it is clear that there is just as much supply as there is demand.

The problem is expectations. Women expect too much, they want tall, handsome, financially stable, responsible, an avid reader- and no, not five different men, each bearing one of these qualities, but one man, with all these qualities!!!

Let’s look at two of these qualities: tall and handsome.

Problem number one: there are too many women are looking for tall men, which leads to tall-man demand outstripping supply. There are just as many short men as there are tall men, if not more, therefore the short men become surplus and lose their value, meaning they have to work twice as hard as tall men to win their place in a woman’s heart. This leads to bitterness and feelings of discrimination and low self-esteem, which could be a serious threat to domestic and national security. Why are you threatening national security? Just love your short man!

Another variable in this love sum is handsome. First you want him tall, now you want him handsome! Can you first celebrate that you have found a man to love you and that you can love? Celebrate! My girlfriends and I used to joke that when we had reached the edge of desperation in our singlehood, our criteria would simply become MBM – Must Be Male.

Believe it or not, many beautiful, successful women are in that boat, looking at you in envy! So, the man who loves you may live on the shorter side of the scale, he may have a chipped tooth, a receding hairline, maybe a paunch or some annoying pimples and facial scars. Ignore it, in the economics of love, you are one of the rich.

Celebrate your man this Sunday!