Finally, here’s what love, marriage and friends cost
Story by CHARLES ONYANGO-OBBO | WHAT OTHERS SAY Publication Date: 2007/06/21
THEY HAVE DONE IT. Economists have finally put a cash value to love, happiness, friendship, and misery according to a report in The Times.
A few days ago, in the first research of its kind, economists in the UK found that regularly chatting to neighbours brings the same level of life satisfaction as earning an extra £40,000 (Sh5.3m) a year.
It’s almost as valuable as a successful marriage, with is reckoned to be bring a satisfaction level worth an additional £53,833 (Sh7m) a year.
However, excellent health beats all of them, as it brings a satisfaction level that is the same as what you get from earning an extra £300,000 (Sh40m) a year.
One of the most surprising findings was that moving in together was worth more than marriage. While marriage is worth an extra Sh7m a year, living together (in “sin” as the men and women of the cloth might say) is worth £82,500 (Sh11m).
Dr Nattavudh Powdthavee, an economist at the University of London and one of the main researchers behind the study, said they were not exactly sure why this was so.
Meeting friends and relatives twice a month is worth £35,000 (Sh4.6m) a year. Meeting them once or twice a week is worth £50,500 (Sh6.7m) a year; and meeting them on most days is worth £63,833 (Sh8.5m) a year.
It gets more interesting. The results also show that people who see less of their friends and relatives also appear to be more satisfied with their marriages. This suggests that social relationships outsides the home maybe a substitute for poor relationships at home.
So we now we have a fairly clear scientific road-map to happiness: Exercise and be healthy; meet your friends and relatives as often as you can (except if you are married); and live in “sin”.
But you also do lose money. Being separated is worth losing £57,667 (Sh7.6m) a year. You lose less when you are divorced – minus £24,500 (Sh3.2m) a year. And it is disaster to be widowed. That one is worth minus £200,000 (Sh27m) a year.
The researchers found that there was little difference between single people and divorcees, probably because both groups tend to live alone.
And the penalty for divorce is lower than for separation, because people who divorce gain some happiness from being rid of an unbearable wife or husband.
Talking of living alone, the Ugandan press this week gave us a rare insight into how loneliness can lead people down strange paths.
According to the Daily Monitor, Police spokesman Simeon Nsubuga “shocked” reporters at a press conference when he revealed that some 900 women call the Uganda Police emergency lines every night asking them to go to their homes and share their beds with them because they are lonely or “feeling cold”.
NSUMBUGA CAUTIONED DRUNKS too against calling up asking police to escort them home, and folks who ring seeking help to talk to dead relatives to stop abusing the toll-free lines.
Another story that again illustrated how crazy things can be in the “Pearl of Africa” appeared some two or so weeks ago when the papers reported that at the main women’s prison in the eastern town of Mbale, facilities are so basic the prisoners had only one battered uniform each.
On washing day, the women have to endure the humiliation of walking about naked until their clothes dry!
Though the papers didn’t report that, one couldn’t help suspect that this kind of situation has been allowed to go on for as long as it has because some mischievous male Prison’s officers usually visit the women’s jail on washing day for inspection.
Which goes to prove, yet again, that there’s rarely a dull moment in Uganda.
Meanwhile, the world moves on. At the recent G8 Summit in Germany, the leaders of the industrialised countries received a lot of stick for not doing enough for the poor.
The Independent reported that there’s a lot of proof to show the rich countries could afford to give more.
If you believe in aid (I don’t) this might break your heart:
(a) The British spend twice as much on wine and champagne as their government does on aid.
(b) German women shell out more on shoes than their government spends on aid.
(c) France’s aid budget is dwarfed by the amount its women spend on perfume.
(d) The amount the US spends on aid is less than the annual profits of the ExxonMobil oil company.
(e) Italians spend more on ice cream than the country provides in overseas aid.
(f) Canada’s aid budget is only half what its people spend on beer.
Given all the above, it’s appropriate that we end on a slightly religious note. The name Muhammad, we are told, is set to overtake Jack as the most popular name for boys.
However, Muhammad is also one of the names with the most different spellings: Mohammed, Muhammad, Mohammad, Muhammed, Mohamed, Mohamad, Mahammed, Mohammod, Mahamed, Muhammod, Muhamad, Mohmmed, Mohamud, Mohammud.
A way to use your mind for silent communication. Speaking about the methods in the book I have used since a young age.
21st Century learning. I also have a GoFundMe page to ask for funds so I can research with other people and add their experiences
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