时事分析 ：Empty wallet; Full heart

The financial crisis triggered a dating frenzy

Wherever you go, just carefully open both ears and listen, almost everyone’s catch-phrase or conversation will be nothing else than financial crisis. I strongly believe that “Money not enough “is so familiar with you. After the world financial crisis in 1997, 2008 is believed to be the resumption from the previous recession. Japan, one of the most developed nation announced that the country is going into recession recently. Most of the countries are facing a slowing down economy with high general price over its goods and services.

Strange but it is true, the statistic from the London-based matchmaking service reveals that the number of applicants increases sharply, contemporaneously three times more than last year. During this tough and depressive period, people tend to weather the difficult times ahead with someone they love. In the recession, the returns in striving hard and working extra hours are not as high as when the economy is performing well. The leisure substitution effect kicks-in and overweights the income effect. Despite working long hours, feeling knackered and financially gloomy, and more people set their time prior to meeting up with someone whom may be the one with high potential becoming his or her partner. Everyone is working so hard, yet everyone needs a balance. All works and no play make everyone as a dull boy; all play and no works make everyone as a jackass.

In conjunction with this reason, it is compatible to know the norm of meeting up with people have totally changed over the year. New ways of hanging around or making an appointment are prominent and unique. Actually, all ways or technique is not unique in being unique. Now, people no longer invite a perfect stranger to a dinner, they will rather ask her for drinks instead of for a meal. Obviously it is a brilliant way to cut down costs in socializing yet the same result of excitement can be obtained without any doubts. Besides, many people now choose to go outing in the evening right after their working hours, whereas, before the financial crisis hits, people are more likely to go out at night. By doing this, they can cut down the intermediate transportation costs that they need to spend for extra distance to go home and come out again at the night. Personally, I think that people are reducing the number of night outs (more costly) per week, and opt to make the most of the evening by dedicating to a date. The final observation for the increasing number of people meeting up for love relationship in the evening leads to another thought, people are looking to settle now especially during the crisis times simple because of the cost savings associated with cohabiting. Being in couple will definitely reduce the outgoings and expenditure.