Market Value #1: An Introduction

In economics, the Market Value is the price a product could command in the open market. Since the dating market is, after all, a market, getting a good grasp on one’s own value is crucial.

And this is where a lot of self-denials and self-delusions come in. People often have no sense of what they’re worth or how they’re perceived. Or they don’t want to see it. The result? Either being over-picky or settling for far less. Or worse, being over picky, panicking, then settling for far less.

There are many determining factors in one’s market value, such as physical attractiveness, education, attitude, charisma, confidence, baggage, financial stability, etc.

Now before you get all defensive and think it’s cold to see people as products, here’s the human factor about Market Value: ultimately it’s not the end all and be all. That’s because your success in the dating market, regardless of your score, is subject to others’ Individual Preference. E.g. If say your corn silk blond hair is a 10, but the guy you like is totally into redheads, there’s really not much you could do (other than dying your hair).

In later posts I’ll show you how Market Value and Individual Preference connect, but for now just remember that you don’t have to be the prettiest swan in the pond to get the prince. Just look at Diana vs. Camilla. Wallace Simson didn’t look so swell either, but Edward VIII happened to like being slapped around. So he gave up the throne for her, even though he could have had any woman who was younger, gentler, and never been divorced.   

So no, you don’t have to be the prettiest of them all. What you do need to do is to be honest with yourself about where you stand, and choose your battle. All I’m advocating is self-awareness and self-honesty. If you love your 80’s hairstyle, keep it. There’s always somebody out there who likes it too. If you don’t realize you got an 80’s hairstyle, it’s not too late to change it.