In message , djc
writes
On 07/02/12 18:25, Cynic wrote:

The law regarding maternity leave has resulted in many employers being
even more reluctant that they used to be to employ women between
certain ages.

Not that I think it would be a bad thing, from a sociological
perspective, to return to the old-fashioned system of having the
husband as the breadwinner and the wife staying at home taking care of
the domestic duties. Unfortunately the economy has changed to make it
impossible for a great proportion of families to be able to live on a
single income.


And that social change has probably contributed to the economic change.
If a two income household can outbid a single income household when it
comes to housing costs then the sort of ever-rising house prices we have
become all too accustomed in 2 or 3 generations is no surprise.

When I bought my flat a quarter of a century all my neighbours were, as
myself, singles buying on a mortgage. Now half are rented by couples and
sharers.


When I bought my first house in 1969 wife's earning were ignored and max
mortgage was STRICTLY 3 x earnings and 80% of purchase price. To get a
mortgage you had to join the queue and you couldn't even get in the
queue unless you had a savings record.

--
hugh