Want to keep your wife happy? Be miserable

Economists have identified a phenomenon called the ‘Happiness Gap’, which states that the bigger the difference between spouses’ satisfaction levels, the greater the risk of a break-up.

Crucially, the study, which looked at tens of thousands of couples in Britain, Germany and Australia, found the effect was seen only when the husband was feeling better about life than his wife.

It was also more likely to be the disgruntled wife who would start divorce proceedings.