Thursday, February 2, 2012

That's Not for Foot Washing. That's a Bidet.

One of the biggest differences between European bathrooms and American are the strange mini-tub like structures sitting next to the toilets in almost every hotel. We know what these are: bidets; and we know who made them: the French. But why are they in every bathroom if, for the most part, only the French use them? Why are they so prevalent even down in the hotels of Italy? Supply and demand! Isn't economics the best? There's answers for everything.

Turns out, hotel owners all across Europe add bidets to the bathroom FOR the French! According to one of the hotel managers in Italy, they need to put bidets in their bathrooms or the French won't come. Simple economics! There's demand from a key group of people (the French) for an oddly shaped sink for your buttocks. Because of this demand, hotel institutions supply these contraptions hoping that their inclusion of them into their hotel bathrooms will woo the French into visiting their fine, butt-washing place of slumber.


One risk of an institution, such as a hotel, catering so blatantly to one specific group of people is that they may alienate another group. For example, if I was part of the Anti-Bidet Front, would I be willing to spend my time and money at an establishment that puts the happiness of the French over my own? Businesses have to find that optimal point on the continuum of consumer utility where they can make the most profit, thus being profit-maximizers. The goal of an institution in this situation is to cater to the most people possible while offending the least amount of people possible. Therefore, many hotels in Italy have decided that providing bidets in their bathrooms is a good business strategy that will help them to maximize their profits by attracting the French to their establishment.

Yay for bidets.

As a side note, this has been a fantastic month in Italy that I will never forget. Shout out to Professors Travis and Reiman who handled themselves admirably in the taking care of me and keeping me out of trouble. Ciao!

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