• 14 Feb 2011 at 4:45 PM

New Book Encourages Married Couples To Use Game Theory In The Bedroom

By Bess Levin

Howard would come home so stressed out that he’d go ballistic about tricycles in the driveway and toys on the floor, write Paula Szuchman and Jenny Anderson in “Spousonomics,” a geeky guide to finding marital bliss through economics. His tantrums had to go, as Howard always recognized after he calmed down. So he and his wife Jen, a fellow lawyer, sought ways to check his anger. Counting to 20 didn’t work. Nor did deep breathing. Desperate, they created a game in which Jen called out “Red Flag” whenever he looked ready to explode. “If Howard went three days without a red flag, she’d have sex with him,” the authors write. As puerile as that sounds, the game worked, restoring peace to their home and rekindling their sex life: A classic economic tradeoff, to hear Szuchman and Anderson tell it. Or was it a coup for a manipulative male? [Bloomberg]

Comments (15)

  1. 1
    Posted by tseuG | February 14, 2011 at 10:14 PM

    Does she factor in Thursday nights into this equation?

    - Ex-Sovereign Mistress

  2. 2
    Posted by tseuG | February 14, 2011 at 10:14 PM

    Does she factor in Thursday nights into this equation?

    - Ex-Sovereign Mistress

  3. 3
    Posted by tseuG | February 14, 2011 at 10:14 PM

    Does she factor in Thursday nights into this equation?

    - Ex-Sovereign Mistress

  4. 4
    Posted by Landed Aristocracy | February 14, 2011 at 10:15 PM

    “Spousonomics,” a geeky guide to the World’s oldest profession.

  5. 5
    Posted by Lisa Marie Falcone | February 14, 2011 at 10:17 PM

    The redemption period was hard on Phil. He’d come home, smelling of Jupe (his favorite cologne) and white wine vinegar. He would kick Wilbur from the piano with unchecked aggression, before traveling to each closet in our home to toss back a thimble of vanilla Cîroc. This, after numerous months, got my neoprene body suit in a bunch and I’d had enough. “Philip, if you continue to vent is this most destructive way, I will have sex with you while listening to all of Ringo Starr’s solo albums.” And that’s how I got my life back.

  6. 6
    Posted by Je34294 | February 14, 2011 at 10:22 PM

    My wife doles it out like candy. If I’ve been a good boy, I get a piece.

  7. 7
    Posted by Guest | February 14, 2011 at 10:26 PM

    Shagonomics is worth a peek. Spousonomics?? Sounds like deciding when’s a good time to invest in separate bedrooms.

  8. 8
    Posted by Dbguest | February 14, 2011 at 10:46 PM

    dont forget to read the sequel, The Sexless Marriage

  9. 9
    Posted by Non-Entity Hedge Fund Manager | February 14, 2011 at 10:54 PM

    Nash equilibrium = Pre-nup -> Divorce -> Marry somebody younger and more willing to satisfy every sexual demand -> Rinse/repeat

    - Tom Hudson

  10. 10
    Posted by CurrencyTrader | February 14, 2011 at 11:59 PM

    Marriage…He might want to use prisoners dilemma model for that. POW

    -Guy who every now and then likes to crack an econ joke.

  11. 11
    Posted by Joe1 | February 15, 2011 at 2:07 AM

    Here’s a fucking red flag; your wife withholding sex unless you play by her rules. Sounds like neuterednomics to me.

  12. 12
    Posted by Tm | February 15, 2011 at 2:53 AM

    I raise

  13. 13
    Posted by Tm | February 15, 2011 at 2:53 AM

    Raise

  14. 14
    Posted by Guest | February 15, 2011 at 6:16 AM

    Has this guy ever heard of ruffies ?

  15. 15
    Posted by guest of guest | February 15, 2011 at 12:15 PM

    Thought red flag was no sex for a week

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