Essay:The Invisible Hand of Marriage

The invisible hand of marriage is unseen force of productivity that results from the marriage of a man and woman.

The invisible hand of marriage is more powerful and influential than the "invisible hand" identified by Adam Smith in economics. Indeed, the source of productivity from Smith's invisible hand has been erroneously attributed to purely economic considerations, without properly factoring in the productive force of marriage. Self-interest and greed are not the primary driving forces of the invisible hand, but marriage is.

Key elements of the invisible hand of marriage include:

• the powerful incentive to work for the benefit of someone else who needs your efforts, such as a spouse or child
• the motivation to work for a future that will likely extend beyond one's own life
• the checks and balances against unproductive activity, anxiety and addiction provided by the very different perspectives of a man and a woman
• the insights that result from complementary outlooks by a man and woman in marriage
• the pushing and prodding that encourages people in marriage to achieve their best

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