The Economist on the age gap: ‘Though both men and women tend to choose partners close to their own age, the most common pairing—two-thirds of American marriages—is between an older man and a younger woman. This pattern can be found in almost every country across the world.’

And: ‘Men, it is argued, prefer partners who are fertile; women prefer mates who can provide for their offspring. Since women are most fertile when they are young, and men tend to accumulate resources with age, a modest gap should, in theory, produce more children.’

The Economist adds: ‘A study published in 2002 by researchers at Maastricht University found that marriages with larger age gaps are associated with higher life satisfaction for both spouses.’

But also: ‘“I ain’t saying she’s a gold digger,” Kanye West sang in a popular song.’

I would like to die a happy gold digger.

(a sf 2056)