Textbook Definition of Negative Externality: An external cost resulting from the private actions of individuals
She-conomic Definition: Negative externalities may result in public places, like church, when that one engaged couple sitting in front of you can't sit through the meeting without repeatedly scratching their partner's back, whispering sweet-nothings in their sweetie's ear, and not-so-discretely fawning over (and showing off) the fiancee's shiny ring. I am really not bitter about this, (especially since I have probably been guilty of creating similar externalities in public with honorable ghosts of dating past), but I think this is a perfect example of a negative externality.
Can you think of any other examples? Besides externalities created by a guy and a girl as a couple, can boyfriends/girlfriends impose externalities on each other?
What are the negative costs of "scratching their partner's back, whispering sweet-nothings in their sweetie's ear etc."?
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