In a study of divorce rates and family size involving 57,000 people over 40 years, sociology researchers at Ohio State University have found that people who come from large families are more likely to get married, and that for every extra sibling your chance of staying married goes up by 2%. (The Times reported in The Week 24 Aug).

All very well, but we can do with big families like a hole in the head. The world is already over-populated and the reducing availability of its resources – from water to raw materials – will provoke the wars of the next century. We are told that world population growth is flattening. This is a daft argument when we are likely to end up with a population of 9 billion. Epicurus, given the current situation would suggest we concentrate on finding the right spouse, loving her and cherishing her. That is most likely to end in a long and happy marriage. Any other ideas?