Asesinato Al Margen

“What she told you may very well be true,” Henry

Spearman replied. “Probably was, in fact. She and her

husband may simply have interdependent utility functions,

like so many married couples. That’s what economists

mean by ‘love.’”

“Interdependent what?” Pruitt responded.

“Interdependent utility functions. I’m sure you have

one at times. It simply means that the pleasure you get

from some of your activities is dependent upon the happiness

of another. So for example the lady in question may

get utility, or to put it another way, satisfaction, from

knowing that her husband has a good time on his vacation.

If he enjoys dancing, and she doesn’t, she still would

gladly dance since her utility in this instance is dependent

upon her husband’s.”

“So now you’re explaining even love through economics,

Henry? Isn’t that going a bit far?” Pidge asked.

“Love, hate, benevolence, malevolence or any emotion

which involves others can be subjected to economic

analysis. When I say ‘I love you,’ it means my utility or

happiness is intertwined with yours. Of course, the expression

would be hard to work into a love song.” Henry

Spearman seemed pleased with his explanation.

Pamela Pruitt, however, looked bored by the academic

exposition on the economics of love and thought

it quite inappropriate for cocktail chatter. She changed

the subject as soon as an opening in the conversation

offered itself. “Jay, I believe that couple likes dancing almost

as much as you do,” she interjected, nodding in the

direction of the dance floor. Her husband and the Spearmans

looked up and saw that Mrs. Pruitt had noticed

Doug and Judy Clark.

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