The news: Have you ever wondered what sex is really worth?

The Austin Institute for the Study of Family and Culture has your back. A recent video highlights research they’ve compiled from various social scientists, and animates them into a lively and accessible 10-minute short. The video seeks to explain how sexual relationships function as their own “supply and demand” economy.

Check it out:

Wow. There’s a lot to absorb here, and plenty to debate.

There are clear limits to this study, most notably its inattention to non-heterosexual relationships. But its overall characterization of sex as an economic “resource” rings true for many people. Whatever your reaction, it’s a topic ripe for discussion.

What do you think?