Yeah, the "point" of alimony is to rehabilitate the wife so she can work - go to school or take time to catch up in her career. (I, of course, think it should fully compensate stay-at-home wives for what they have given up career-wise but it is not designed for that). Permanent alimony seems to usually only happen if the spouse has some disability that might prevent them from being fully employed, or when the marriage has been quite long and the spouse is older (ie a 55 year old woman who has never worked outside the home, maybe?). So whether and how much the wife has worked is pertinent, also what kind of work etc.
