The Economics of Love

THE POWER OF TWO

Last Sunday's New York Times referred to the love economics. Economists Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers disserted about economic issues in the household, emphasizing that like, many, they have stayed unmarried for financial reasons. A few weeks ago, a report by France24 and Radio France Internationale presented a government study where couples, and especially women involved in a relationship, would do better working part-time than full-time and that women having a freelance job would dramatically exceed their career development opportunities as they also had a better chance to be dedicated parents. Also, just a few weeks ago, DANE in Colombia, an government entity that gathers national statistics in that country revealed that the number of marriage registrations decreased from about 160,000 per year to roughly over 50,000 per year. So, free union has unfortunately become a habit in many South American countries, but for many polygamy, abuse, and concubinage are a sample of a one-side power, usually the male one. Also, many marriages have been anulled or under a divorce action that is typically unilateral. When a marriage is anulled, it no longer counts in the public record, as it in fact it never happened. 
As I learned the rules of engagement and union, as being raised as a Catholic in an all-boys primary school that, I received a decisive ethical perception in spite that the rest of my education was not received at a Catholic or religion-driven institution. I learned however to significantly attain problem-solving alone through my life working part-time as I attended several schools at the same time. My education sometimes confronts me in my social life. And enduring family responsibilities is not an easy task, and it can convey priorities, such as caring for the elderly.
For many economists, the idea that couples should share expenses proportionally to their salaries is an ideal scenario for household expenses, but it seldom happens. Sometimes, half and half, or one pays for it all are the most common practices. Yet with the current economic crisis, many separated individuals end up living with relatives and under public assistance.

As far as taxes are concerned many couples feel the burden of taxes more than singles, in spite, of the many benefits and exceptions of having a household.

In constrast, at a time when the New Jersey Legislation passed the so called “gay marriage”, I believe that it contradicts with the semantics of the word, which is significantly spiritual. I believe that the word is being used in appropriately and feel offended in my personal belief, as it is an implicit blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, since the gay union cannot procreate naturally. When I attended the law school most laws were based on natural laws, rather than on contra natura laws, and the sense of ethics was based in that principle. While everyone has the right to love as desired, and all civil rights should support the constitutional right to free association and free will, the principles where one's right ends where other begins could be applicable here as true Christians, Catholics and non-Catholics, and several other religions could hardly approve the expansion of social liberties and freedom beyond the natural law to trangress the principles of belief by those of the non-believers in a rather offensive fashion. I believe that civil unions between gays should not offend the sacred nature of marriage whose main goal is natural procreation and life. I hope that the contra natura laws will be vetoed in New Jersey for good. The US states were this law was approved will learn of their effect only until a new generations will have lived it.  Not surprinsingly all countries where these unions have been legalized are in an economic burden and curse.

The countries where social sciences have studied the negative impact of these unions to society, including the future socio-economic development, have strongly opposed and rejected them, by straight law, refererendum, and various constitutional methods thereof. It appears that some of the most important achievements of civilization, such as the nature of family, will be significantly affected, and that social anarchy over the issue could affect even larger institutions such as both state and church. The non-approval of “gay marriage” should affect their civil rights, so the problem is simply about and beyond the semantics of the word and its sacred nature with the social implications involved.