When times are bad men lust for women with big busts, but when the economy is booming men prefer smaller breasted women.

So goes a theory of social psychologist Dr. Terry Pettijohn.

Researchers in America examined photos of actresses and pored over back issues of Playboy to see whether there was a correlation between attraction and national prosperity.

Hey wait a minute! How do I get that job? “No, really Honey — I have to read this. It’s for work!”

They found that women with mature facial features – smaller eyes, larger chins and stronger faces – were popular during recessions, while baby-faced actresses did well during booms.

They concluded that Playboy’s playmates of the year – academically referred to as PMOY – are likely to be taller, heavier and more mature-looking during hard times. They are smaller, more curvaceous and have bigger eyes when the economy is thriving….

Pettijohn said: “When times are difficult it seems we prefer types who are strong; independent and mature individuals who can take care of themselves, and possibly of us. When times are good, we’re looking for people to have fun with – a fun-loving, big-eyed individual.”

Pettijohn also included actresses in his study and found that the trend held true. In the prosperous 80s “fresh-faced stars” Sissy Spacek and Sally Field both won Oscars for Best Actress. But in the early 90s, when times were a bit gloomier, “mature-looking” Emma Thompson won Best Actress and the “cold-eyed temptress” of Basic Instinct, Sharon Stone, became popular.

Note: The following is not work safe!

Leave it to The Sun to perform a corroborating study of their own.

We tested his theory by matching Page 3 beauties with UK economic and stock market figures. And we found his boob and bust theory really stacks up.