Discover 5 opportunities in culture

With Valentine’s Day approaching, it's intriguing to explore the economics of love—how much we spend, why we do it, and whether it’s worth the investment. Romance, like any market, operates on supply, demand and consumer behaviour with prices fluctuating based on cultural expectations and economic conditions. Valentine’s Day traces its origins to ancient Rome, where the festival of Lupercalia on Feb 13-15 celebrated fertility and matchmaking. Later, it was linked to Saint Valentine, a priest who secretly performed marriages against Emperor Claudius II’s orders and was executed on February 14, 269 AD. By the 14th century, poets like Geoffrey Chaucer romanticised the day, associating it with courtship. By the 19th century, mass-produced Valentine’s cards became popular, evolving into today’s global celebration of love, marked by gifts, flowers, and heartfelt gestures1.

In recent years, more and more universities are deliberately seeking out international students and encouraging cross-cultural exchange, whether through direct exchange programs, entire degrees for or including international students, or wider networks such as the Erasmus program in Europe. The benefits of working and studying abroad are numerous – they can lead to improved language skills, salary, a global network of contacts and increased cultural sensitivity.