Textbook Definition of Competitive Market: A market characterized by a large number of small, identical firms (and buyers), where each firm is a "price taker," and the demand for an individual firm's product is perfectly elastic. In the long-run, profits for each firm are zero in a competitive market, as a result of entry/exit.
She-conomic Definition: Provo, Utah is a rather competitive market for LDS dating. There are many suppliers and demanders of dating relationships, and many good substitutes (how different is "Peter Priesthood" from "Patrick Priesthood"?) As a result, some individuals find it difficult to engage in meaningful ("profitable") relationships, because as soon as a relationship seems to be going well, one of the parties is prone to "exiting" relationship with said partner and "enter"ing into a relationship with a close substitute. The result can be disheartening. But, assuming that barriers to entering new relationships are low, we might expect young men and young women to be able to rebound and move in and out of relationships fairly costlessly.
What "real-life" conditions challenge the explanatory power of the competitive market model in dating? Is every other guy/girl a "perfect substitute" for your ex? What kinds of factors prevent easy entry and exit in relationships?
