Adultery between married partners: A recession strategy?

While accepted wisdom holds that adversity can bring people closer together, the recent recession has shown that, in reality, the opposite may well be the case. With finances getting stretched thin and economic pressures driving wedges between many couples, adultery seems to be be emerging as a coping strategy for many unhappy marrieds.

Ironically, the biggest stumbling block for would-be adulterers may well be cost. Although there are some prostitutes who are willing to barter for gas or snack items, professionals generally charge top dollar. While paying someone $800 to $2,000 per hour may be a reasonable expense in boom times, it is a harder sell -- so to speak -- in a recession.