Marina Adshade

In Dollars and Sex, economist Marina Adshade converts economic theory into a sexy science by applying the principles of supply and demand and other market forces to matters of love and libido. In hugely popular and highly customizable talks, Adshade unlocks the mysteries behind our actions, thoughts, and preferences using engaging research, economic analysis, and humour. She explains that when it comes to matters of the heart, the market matters, too. Beyond data and theory, understanding the way these markets operate provides a structured way to think about the world around us. Now more than ever, it's important to understand how our economy is affecting the more personal aspects of our lives. In an era in which sexuality and relationships are mired in politics and personal values, Adshade offers a refreshing approach that can be very revealing. Ultimately, she shows the audience that every option, every decision and every outcome in matters of sex and love is better understood through economics.

With colourful storytelling, empirical evidence and hard data, Adshade answers our burning questions from within an economic framework -- and those questions we never thought to ask, such as:

• How do we sabotage our chances of finding a mate when dating online?
• What is the relationship between rising rates of casual sex and the widening earning gap?
• Why have we become so promiscuous over the past century? In what direction are we heading?
• Why have divorce rates been falling over the past 30 years and what economic forces will determine divorce rates in the future?
• What does it mean to be married in 2012? Is modern marriage just an opportunity to consume more goods and services?
• Why are teen pregnancy rates in the US so high relative to other developed nations—and is there hope that this might change?