The Economics of India’s High Prevelance of Child Brides

Context: The recent step by the government to raise the minimum age of marriage for women, although a right step, fails to appreciate the economics of child marriages in India.

Issue of child marriages in India

• Prevalence Statistics: 
• According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), out of 650 million women who were married before 18, 223 million are in India.
• Prevalence in under-developed states: Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of child brides at 36 million, followed by Bihar, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
• Problem is not with the law: Even though different minimum age is prescribed for both men (21 years) and women (18 years), only 4% of Indian men are married before 18 and 20% before 21, while 27% of women get married before 18.

Economics of  Child Marriages: The real problem lies in the sustained economics of child marriages.

• Supply of Child Brides: Due to very high son preference, unintended daughters are born and to afford sons (in poor families), these unwanted daughters are married at an early age.

• Demand for Child Marriage: Due to skewed sex ratio (899 girls to 1000 boys at birth) and poor investment on the upbringing of daughters, there is an imbalance in the marriage institution.
• For, E.g. This has led to Bride Purchasing/Import as seen in Haryana from poorer states.
• Men having inferior prospects or socio-economic status, would not be able to find traditional marriage age brides, creating a demand for a child bride.

Positive Effects of Raising Minimum Age:

• Higher nutritional levels for women and their children
• The lower maternal mortality rate
• Improved Educational outcomes
• Greater financial independence

Negative Effects of Raising Minimum Age:

• Increase in female infanticide: since the son preferring families would opt for sex-selective abortion.
• Cost of marriage would increase: further pushing poorer families further into poverty.

Conclusion: Economic growth combined with educational and cultural awareness against a sex preference will save Indian girls from child marriage.