Seven-year marriage proposed to tackle 'itch'

A German politician frustrated by society's failure to keep up with the dynamics of modern relationships has come up with a novel plan to tackle the so-called seven year itch.

Gabriele Pauli, a member of Bavaria's conservative party, has suggested that a seven year limit be placed on marriages to "avoid financial and emotional heartache".

She said that many couples experiencing problems decide to stay married because they are either afraid of separation or put off by the idea of going through a divorce.

Placing an expiry date on a marriage would therefore allow them to re-evaluate their relationship without feeling pressured into staying together if the marriage breaks down.

When the seven years are up the couple can decide to stay together and have their marriage extended or go their separate ways without having to go through a divorce proceedings.

Pauli, who has herself been a divorced twice, said marriage was no longer a "super-intact" institution and that politicians need to wake up this fact.

United States Census statistics show that first marriages that end in divorce last an average of eight years, but researchers insists this has nothing to do with the seven year itch.

"The notion of a seven year itch isn't well borne out," Steven Martin, assistant professor of sociology at the University of Maryland told USA today. "There is nothing special with being married eight years."

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