The Silent Price of Friendship: How Group Dinners Lead to Economic and Social Ruin
Friendship Expert and Economist Natalie Smith, author of the article “The Great Dining Divide,” describes group dinners as a silent friendship killer leading to an economic crisis and social isolation. “I surveyed hundreds of friend groups and found that the awkwardness of financial disparity at celebratory group dinners creates long-lasting resentments and eventually friendship breakups. The article describes the impact on friendship begins at the mere suggestion of a group dinner. Usually the “wealthy friend” plans a celebration within their means while the “broke friend” goes along out of social obligation. Other friend types that aggravate this dynamic: “the friend who wants to order bottles because it makes more sense than drinks by-the-glass,” and “the friend who wants to share appetizers.” Should you inquire about your friend’s financials before planning a dinner? Potentially at the cost of your taste? What’s the social cost of sitting out a dinner you can’t afford? Even a birthday dinner? While all friend groups are different, celebratory group dinners across the country beg the question: Should friends having different economic experiences eat together? For Smith, the answer is clear: No.
