Balancing act: a surreal illustration of modern relationship challenges.

Navigating the Modern Marriage Market: How 'Imperfectly Transferable Utility' is Changing Relationships

Nico Varela in Culture & Society December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Forget traditional economics – a groundbreaking model is revealing how real-world constraints and personal quirks shape our romantic connections."

For decades, economists have used traditional models to understand how people make choices, including decisions about marriage and partnerships. One common framework is "transferable utility," which assumes that resources and benefits within a relationship can be easily shared or exchanged. However, this model often falls short in capturing the nuances of real-life relationships. What if one partner's career demands limit their contribution to household tasks? What if deeply ingrained societal expectations affect how a couple divides finances?

Enter the "Imperfectly Transferable Utility" (ITU) model. This framework acknowledges that real-world limitations and individual differences can significantly impact how couples navigate their shared lives. It recognizes that things aren't always as simple as a clean, even split. The ITU model provides a more nuanced lens for understanding the complexities of modern partnerships, from financial decisions to household responsibilities.

This article explores the core concepts of the ITU model, highlighting its strengths and how it contrasts with more traditional economic approaches. We'll delve into practical examples, showing how this framework helps us understand the dynamics of power, negotiation, and satisfaction within modern relationships.

Beyond the Equal Split: Understanding Imperfectly Transferable Utility

Balancing act: a surreal illustration of modern relationship challenges.

At its heart, the ITU model recognizes that the "utility" – or satisfaction and well-being – derived from a relationship isn't always easily transferable between partners. Think of it like this: in a traditional economic model, if one partner gives up one unit of "utility" (maybe by taking on more chores), the other partner automatically gains that same unit. The ITU model acknowledges that this isn't always the case.

There might be several reasons for this "imperfect transferability."

External Constraints: Societal expectations, career demands, or family obligations can limit how easily partners can share responsibilities or resources.
Individual Preferences: Partners may have different values or priorities, making it difficult to find a perfect balance that maximizes everyone's satisfaction.
Power Dynamics: Unequal earning power or deeply ingrained gender roles can affect how decisions are made and how resources are distributed.

The ITU model doesn't assume that relationships are inherently unfair or unbalanced. Instead, it provides a framework for understanding and addressing these complexities, offering a more realistic picture of how couples navigate their shared lives.

The Future of Relationships: Applying the ITU Model

The ITU model offers valuable insights for couples, therapists, and policymakers alike. By recognizing the complexities of modern relationships, we can develop more effective strategies for communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution. This framework can also inform policies that promote gender equality and support families in navigating the challenges of balancing work and family life. As relationships continue to evolve, the ITU model provides a crucial tool for understanding and fostering healthy, equitable partnerships.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2403.05222,

Title: Matching Under Imperfectly Transferable Utility

Subject: econ.gn q-fin.ec

Authors: Alfred Galichon, Simon Weber

Published: 08-03-2024

Everything You Need To Know

What is the main difference between the 'Imperfectly Transferable Utility' (ITU) model and traditional economic models when it comes to understanding relationships?

The core difference lies in how they treat 'utility' within a relationship. Traditional economic models, like those using 'transferable utility', assume that the benefits and resources in a partnership can be easily shared and exchanged between partners. Conversely, the 'Imperfectly Transferable Utility' (ITU) model acknowledges that this transfer is not always perfect. External constraints such as career demands, individual preferences and power dynamics can limit the ease with which partners can share resources or experiences and affect how satisfied the partners are.

How does the 'Imperfectly Transferable Utility' (ITU) model account for real-world limitations in relationships?

The ITU model accounts for real-world limitations by acknowledging that various factors can impact how easily partners share resources or responsibilities. These factors include 'External Constraints' like societal expectations, career demands, or family obligations that limit the transfer of 'utility'. It also considers 'Individual Preferences', where partners may have different values, making it hard to achieve a perfect balance. Lastly, the model looks at 'Power Dynamics', such as unequal earning power or gender roles, which influence decision-making and resource distribution within the partnership.

What are some real-life examples that the 'Imperfectly Transferable Utility' (ITU) model helps us understand?

The ITU model provides a better understanding of scenarios where partners face challenges. For example, the model can help to explain how a partner's demanding career limits their contribution to household tasks, or how societal expectations influence the couple's financial decisions. The model considers how factors like unequal earning power or gender roles influence resource distribution, impacting the overall dynamics of power, negotiation, and satisfaction within the relationship.

In the context of the 'Imperfectly Transferable Utility' (ITU) model, what does 'utility' represent, and why is its transfer often imperfect?

'Utility', within the 'Imperfectly Transferable Utility' (ITU) model, represents the satisfaction and well-being that each partner derives from the relationship. The transfer of this 'utility' is often imperfect due to various limitations. 'External Constraints', such as societal expectations, career demands, or family obligations, limit how partners can share resources and responsibilities. 'Individual Preferences', where partners have different values, and 'Power Dynamics', stemming from earning differences or gender roles, also play a role. These factors create complexities, making a perfect, equal exchange of 'utility' uncommon.

How can the 'Imperfectly Transferable Utility' (ITU) model be applied to improve communication and conflict resolution in modern relationships?

The 'Imperfectly Transferable Utility' (ITU) model offers a framework for understanding the complexities of modern partnerships. By recognizing the influences of 'External Constraints', 'Individual Preferences', and 'Power Dynamics', couples can gain insights into the dynamics of their relationship. This understanding promotes better communication and conflict resolution. When couples understand these factors, they can negotiate and find solutions that acknowledge and address these challenges. This framework can inform policies that promote gender equality and support families in navigating the challenges of balancing work and family life.