Child marriage across India has shown a declining tendency, however, the State of Bihar continues to exhibit this harmful practice at a staggering high percentage. It is considered as an economic solution to deal with the financial burden attached with the upbringing of a girlchild. The author has used economic analysis of law to examine the efficacy and efficiency of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, in the state of Bihar. The study is based on secondary data available from National Family Health Survey4 and NFHS5, Census of India and Economic survey of Bihar. The use of descriptive and exploratory studies helped the author in yielding stimulative insights into the relationship between individual behaviour and social practices. Based on scientific and logical understanding, the study proves that a society would always prefer to choose, exercise and continue solemnising child marriage practices if the benefits (economic, social and psychological) of child marriage is higher than the opportunity cost of getting arrested and convicted under the law. The social benefits associated with child marriage for the poor, populous, patriarchal society like Bihar outweighs the social cost linked to the prohibition law.
The basis of the entire legal system, since time immemorial, is shrouded in the ideals of justice.Crime attracts Punishment.
Economists have studied the psychology of crime and how individuals react to changes in theeconomy. One basic idea is laws are enacted to lower down crime rates and discouragepotential offenders from committing crimes.