Hot news: it is a truth universally acknowledged that a single woman in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a husband.

And that's precisely what new research from the US tells us. Women are marrying down. It's as if the Bennets in Pride and Prejudice suddenly became boys in need of wealthy, powerful brides.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single woman in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a husband – at least that's what new research from the US tells us.

But the outcome for those wealthy, powerful and clever brides isn't too sunny. If you thought the education of your daughters was a silver bullet, I have sad tidings. It's just possible their degrees and financial success will lead to a decline in their standard of living, at least in the short-term.

The reason? Women are now far more likely to be well-educated and earn more, but not the blokes with whom they mate. Yes, women are marrying down more than ever before. For men, it's hypergamy, the concept of marrying above your station. Women are pitching their sights a lot lower, hypogamy. Both of these risk the long-term stability of relationships and the answer is monogamy. Joke. It's actually homogamy. More about that later.