ninme

Just that this time the gummint’s paying for it.

The Times - Tying the knot? For you, we promise £5,000
Daniel Finkelstein finds a fair method of encouraging marriage

So the right policy is to pay people one lump sum – a dowry – when they get married. A dowry of, say, £5,000 would be a real incentive to formalise a relationship and a public political statement of faith in the institution of marriage. There are, of course, technical details to be worked out – timing of the payment, the eligibility of divorcees and so forth. But the Government might be able to pay out even more: the money only gets paid to newlyweds (and civil partnerships), so you can afford an amount big enough to make a difference. And it reaches those who don’t pay tax, too.

Just as attractive are the political advantages. The one-off dowry doesn’t discriminate against anybody who is already a single parent, say, or widowed. It doesn’t judge their relationships or even appear to do so. It keeps Mr Cameron’s promise, encouraging people to get married, but doesn’t divide society into taxpayers who conform and those who don’t. It’s liberal and Conservative at the same time.

The dowry. Dilemma solved.

Somehow a trip of goats seems more romantic.