The number of marriages in the U.S. has dropped dramatically because there's a shortage of financially attractive men.
That's according to a new study by Cornell University, which found an average woman's ideal husband would have to make about 58 percent more money than available men actually do. "Most American women hope to marry but current shortages of marriageable men -- with a stable job and good income -- make this increasingly difficult," says the study's lead author, Daniel T. Lichter.
Despite the findings, Lichter says romance still plays a big role in tying the knot. "Marriage is still based on love, but it also is fundamentally an economic transaction," he says. "Many young men today have little to bring to the marriage bargain, especially as young women's education levels on average now exceed their male suitors."
Do the study's findings reflect more poorly on women or men? How would you describe your ideal mate? I talk about my personal experience with this in tonight's episode of my nightly podcast Crystal's Nightcap, listen below.
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