Professor Eric Helland of Claremont McKenna College posed an interesting puzzle during today’s Law & Economics Institute: Why do most brides buy expensive wedding dresses while most grooms most rent tuxedos?
What do you think?
Now, let me ask you a second-order question: Is your answer based on economics, gender preferences, or “culture”? That is, is your answer testable or falsifiable?
FYI, for an economic approach to this question, see here.



Brides want to keep their dresses as a memory of their special day and maybe even to give to their daughter(s) assuming they have girls. Maybe some husbands will do the same and buy their tux as opposed to renting like my husband The Professor did.