Despite the increasing prevalence of the “ball and chain” view of marriage among men, that perception of marriage is simply not supported by the research. There’s no doubt that marriage requires sacrifices and lots of them. Successful marriages require men to work harder, steer clear of attractive alternatives, spend less time with their buddies, and make a good-faith effort, day in and day out, to be emotionally present to their wives. Most men find these sacrifices hard. But, as we document in this new IFS research brief, it turns out that the return on marital sacrifice for men is substantial.