Engagement rings as compensation

Study of women and men about the size of engagement rings they would accept or buy for a potential mate:

• The results indicate that men would get bigger, costlier rocks if they were to be paired with an attractive woman. 

•  In their turn, women would want larger rings if their partners weren’t so good-looking. 

• Interestingly, women who thought themselves physically attractive were more likely to expect and get more expensive rings, no matter what their partners’ looks.

The size of the engagement ring looks like compensation paid by the husband to a wife for the relatively unpleasant task of marriage.  See related post, Why Men Pay to Stay Married.  

HT:  marginalrevolution.com