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Old Money, the Nouveau Riche and Brunhilde's Marriage Dilemma

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Listed:
  • Bronsert, Anne-Kathrin
  • Glazer, Amihai
  • Konrad, Kai A.

Abstract

This paper proposes a screening approach to explain why dating is associated with purchasing status products and conspicuous gift giving. A potential bride searching for a husband may seek to screen candidates whose income is only partially observable. Taking into account that she also bears part of the screening costs, she can sort candidates by offering a menu of contracts that triggers but also constrains conspicuous consumption.

Suggested Citation

  • Bronsert, Anne-Kathrin & Glazer, Amihai & Konrad, Kai A., 2014. "Old Money, the Nouveau Riche and Brunhilde's Marriage Dilemma," VfS Annual Conference 2014 (Hamburg): Evidence-based Economic Policy 100385, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:vfsc14:100385
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness

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