We live in an era of bailouts and business cycles. Economics seems to run our lives. Every time you turn on the news, it seems like there’s another economist offering up an explanation or advice about life in the Great Reces-sion, and from their lan-guage, they sound like smart people. Countercyclical policies. Bull markets. Fiscal deficits. But it also seems like everything they have to say involves the grand scheme of things, the world on Wall Street or in Washington.

Economics seems to run our lives, but does the field have anything to offer us for our daily lives? Some practical wisdom that will make us happier, more efficient beings? Romance, is where I’m going with this. It’s a struggle out there, and now that our economy is looking better, what’s a guy to do if his love life is still stuck in a recession?

Well, fortunately, the science of economics is here to help. The first rule an economist is going to tell you is that love is about odds, so if you just want to sit back and wait for your soulmate to show up, you might be waiting a long, long time. You’ve got tofigure out what you want, and get out there and make it happen. Rule number two is that life is about tradeoffs. Fifty hours a week at work leaves you little time to be roaming around singles mixers, searching for the right one. And if you only have time for one date a week, how many months will it take for you to land a date with the right person? Economists think about efἀciency. Surely there’s a better way

.If the dismal science is starting to get you down, look no further than It Takes 2, a modern day matchmaking service in Richmond. Designed for people who are over all the old games of bars and blind dates, It Takes 2 is the easy, efficient way to improve your love life without having to twiddle your thumbs while you wait for life to come to you.

Carrie Daichman founded It Takes 2 in 1998, and she operates in her comfy West End office. When you call her up, she’ll schedule you for an in-person consultation, and take notes on who you are and what you’re looking for. Her database consists of thousands of local singles, so her system is designed to dramatically improve your odds of love.

Unlike the online dating scene, another method for getting a date in today’s world, Carrie’s method is personal. “Online dating can be time consuming and frustrating,” Carrie said. “It doesn’t take too long for people to get discouraged because there’s no empathy. I take the time to get to know a person, which a computer can’t do.”

And once Carrie gets to know you, she’s ready to pair you with potential matches. “I like to think of my job as similar to a real estate agent’s,” Carrie said. “You tell a realtor what you’re looking for in a house, and they know the market and can introduce you to your options.

In the same way, I’ve got a large pool of clients that I can introduce you to after you let me know what you’re interested in.

”The good news, from the economist’s perspective, is that life is all about numbers. There are thousands of potential mates for you, right here in Richmond, so statistically it’s all about finding the right one. As Carrie says, “It Takes 2 to help you meet just the right one.” Call Carrie today and help improve your odds of love.