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Page 2 - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, February 7, 1985
Prof mixes economic
theory with romance
By KATIE WILCOX
Looks and sex appeal are certainly
important in choosing a lover, but con-
sider for a moment the economics in-
volved.
Espousing his theories of mating and
marriage, University economics Prof.
Theodore Bergstrom, gave a new per-
spective to an old subject at a North
Campus lecture yesterday.
MIXING "UNITS of joy" with the
"diminishing marginal rate of sub-
stitution" Bergstrom showed just how
choosing a mate differs from "normal"
economic consumer theory.
"Nobody ever cares what the beans,
pork chops, and peas think about the
consumer," he said.
"There's no reason why girls'
preferences will be matched by the
boys' and vice-versa.''
SO WHAT'S A poor love-struck fool to
do? Well, he could, as Bergstrom
suggests, use the Gale Shapley cour-
tship algorithm for guidance.
"Would it be possible to find an
assignment (of mates) where no two
people would prefer each other to their
partner?" he said.
Bergstrom thinks so. Such a con-
dition, he said, would be a stable com-
bination of "boys and girls" such that
no one would cheat on his partner
because anyone he would like to have
an affair with, prefers his own partner
over the potential mate.
IT'S HARD to picture the boy down
on one knee with a wedding ring in one
hand and a checklist in the other, but
Bergstrom said the process of mutual
selection and "stable assignment... is
not so terribly different than the cour-
tship we perceive."
In this model you calculate the
public goods and private goods con-
sumed in marriage" to find "the
allocation of boys and girls to maximize
the joy produced," Bergstrom said.
"They joy produced minus the price
of the girl equals the joy the boy gets
and vice-versa," he said.
Even Bergstrom admits it's "gross"
to divide the sum of the joy between two
people, "but it still rings partly true, at
least to me."
Backing up the theories, Bergstrom
uses complex linear programming
models and "quasi-concave" graphs.
IN BRIEF
Complied from Associated Press and
United Press International reports
Irel denies bomb attack report
BEIRUT, Lebanon-Lebanese radio stations reported a suicide bomb at-
tack yesterday against Israeli troops with as many as 100 casualties near the
southern port of Tyre, but Israel called the reports "a lie."
State-owned Beirut radio reported that an unidentified officer detonated a
car packed with explosives in a suicide attack on Israeli troops, killing or
wounding more than 100 Israeli soldiers. Israel immediately denied the
claim.
The Beirut radio report, which also was carried by several other radio
stations in Lebanon, said the attack was in apparent retaliation for the
killing of students Tuesday in a Moslem orphanage in Tyre.
In Tel Aviv, Israeli army spokesman Zev Chafets issued an "official
denial" saying the attack "never happened." Asked if the report of the at-
tack on Israeli troops was a hoax, Chafets said it was "a lie."
MSU suspends film groups
Daily Photo by DARRIAN SMITH.
Economics Prof. Theodore Bergstrom speaks on economic theories in mate
selection yesterday at the Industrial and Operations Engineering Building.
Congressman's wife dispels Barbie doll' myth
WASHINGTON (AP) - Marty Davis,
out to dispel the notion that
congressional wives are all "cloying
Barbie dolls swathed in Ultrasuede,"
said yesterday she sent a revealing
photograph to a local magazine
because she was irritated by being
stereotyped.
"It's gotten to the point where I sim-
ply don't tell anybody I'm a
congressman's wife because I don't like
the reaction I get," said Davis, the wife
of Rep. Robert Davis (R-Mich.).
Davis, a Dearborn, Mich., native
with bachelor's and master's degrees in
journalism, had had enough when a let-
ter to the editor appeared in Dossier.
The author remared with surprise at
the attractive appearance of another
congressional wife.
"That ticked me off," Davis said.
So, she sent the magazine a picture of
herself, bending over in a cut-away
leotard and hign heels, hair cascading
over a shoulder.
"Yes, there are congressional wives
who aren't cloying Barbie dolls
swathed in Ultrasuede,"she wrote in a
letter accompanying the picture and
published with it in the February issue
of Dossier.
"I'm speaking for myself and I'm
speaking for the business-oriented,
career-oriented women in our ranks,"
she said.
Since Davis, 51, was elected to
Congress in 1978, Davis said she has
been fighting the idea that she was
"merely an ornament... an extension of
your husband."
Although she campaigns with Davis
and does election media work for him,
many people see her - and other
congressional wives - as lacking style
and independence, she said.
"I don't know how many times I've
been called 'sweetheart' and 'honey' by
lobbyists," she said. "It's really
disgusting," adding it infuriated her
when she was patronized at parties.
In applying for jobs, she said people
either "thought I was a bimbo" or
imagined she would slant the news
because she was a congressional
spouse.
"Anybody who breaks the mold, they
can't figure out," she said.
"People will say, 'But you don't look
like a congressman's wife. I've heard
that so many times."
To maintain her looks, Davis said she
works out regularly at an exercise
studio, watches her weight and takes
care of her skin.
Her husband, she said, has always
backed her career. They met when
Davis was a state senator and she
worked for a radio station in Michigan.
The couple married in 1976 - the
second marriage for both.
Paul Ganz, Davis' press secretary,
said the congressman was not "em-
barrassed at all" by the magazine pic-
ture. "He has always been very suppor-
tive of her... aims and aspirations."
Davis recently formed her own public
relations and media consulting firm
which she operates from her home.
EAST LANSING - Two student-run film groups embroiled in a controversy
over the showing of x-rated movies say their status as registered student
organizations at Michigan State University has been suspended.
Spokesmen for Box Office Spectaculars and Revolver Cinema said the ac-
tion was taken by MSU Vice President Moses Turner, who had earlier asked
the groups to stop showing the skin flicks.
Turner refused to say whether the groups had been suspended.
Turner told the groups they were operating more as businesses than as
student organizations.
But a spokesman for Box Office Spectaculars denied the group is making a
profit.°
Darin Greyerbiehl of Revolver Cinema has said he will take his case to the
Lansing chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.
Alleged vi 'atepleads innocent
NEW YORK-"Death Wish" gunman Bernhard Goetz pleaded innocent
yesterday to charges of illegal weapons possession while protesters outside
the court accused the electrical engineer of racism and murder.
In a 10-minute court appearance, his first since he was indicted, Goetz also
won a request for a reduction in bail from $50,000 to $5,000.
A grand jury last month refused to indict Goetz for attempted murder for
shooting four black teenagers who allegedly asked him for $5 on a subway
train Dec. 22.
In reducing the bail, Justice Stephen Crane noted the "stark contrast"
between the current charges and the preliminary attempted murder
charges Goetz had faced when the $50,000 bail was set.
The judge, who could hear anti-Goetz slogans chanted by protesters on the
street, also noted that Goetz agreed to surrender his passport and that his at-
torney, Joseph Kelner, had promised Goetz would remain in the state.
Seat-belt bill passes conittee
LANSING-Mandatory seat belt legislation continued its quick trip
through the legislature yesterday gaining 13-2 approval from the House In-
surance Committee, with a vote predicted in the full House in a week.
Rep. David Hollister said he believes the bill has had a relatively easy
time so far because "the argument has been won."
With the Legislature in session for 'barely a month, the bill has already
cleared the Senate and is now poised for action in the House.
Hollister said the bill has as many as 65 supporters in the House-nine
more than the number needed for passage.
The Lansing Democrat, the chief backer of the seat belt requirement, said
lawmakers and the public no longer perceive the issue to be one of "seat
belts or nothing," but a choice of either seat belts or federally mandated
passive restraints or air bags in new cars.
U.S. studies alternatives to
Australian MX missile support
WASHINGTON-The Reagan administration, conferring with Australian
Prime Minister Robert Hawke, said yesterday it is "looking at the
availability of alternatives" in the wake of Australia's reported plans to
withdraw support facilities for MX missile tests.
Secretary of State George Shultz met with Hawke yesterday and said: "A
decision has been made by the United States to conduct MX tests without the
use of Australian support facilities." Hawke said there would be no affect on
cooperation between the nations within ANZUS.
An administration official, briefing reporters on the condition that he not
be otherwise identified, said Hawke discussed the MX issue with U.S. of-
ficials briefly Tuesday night at a dinner given by Vice President George
Bush. It was expected to come up again yesterday and today in meetings
with Shultz and President Reagan.
The official made clear, however, that the administration does not con-
sider the Australian action as serious a matter as New Zealand's decision to
close its ports to nuclear-equipped U.S. ships. That decision, which led to
U.S. withdrawal from, and Australian cancellation of, joint naval exercises
among the three ANZUS treaty partners, is also expected to be on Hawke's
agenda.
Obje irbigaun 1a flu
Vol. XVC - No. No. 106
The Michigan Daily (ISSN 0745-967 X) is published Tuesday through Sunday
during the Fall and Winter terms and Tuesday through Saturday during the
Spring and Summer terms by students at the University of Michigan. Sub-
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1.
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Round trip. Anywhere Greyhound goes.
This spring break, if you and your friends are
thinking about heading to the slopes, the beach or
just home for a visit, Greyhound can take you there.
For only $99 or less, round trip.
Starting February 15, all you do is show us your
collee student I.D. cardwen you purchase our
ticket. Your ticket will then be good for travel or
15 days from the date of purchase.
So this spring break, get a real break. Go any-
where Greyhound goes or $99 or less.
For more information, call Greyhound.
Must present a valid college student I.D. card upon purchase. No other discounts
apply. Tickets are non transferable and good for travel on Greyhound Lines, Inc.,
and other participating carriers. Certain restrictions apply. Offereffective
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Editor in Chief ........,.............NEIL CHASE
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PETER WILLIAMS
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