‘An important, fascinating and frequently shocking read.’ – BERNARDINE EVARISTO, author of Girl, Woman, Other Covering a fascinating period of population growth, high infant mortality and deep social ...

¿Cómo afectarán el envejecimiento de la población y la caída de la fecundidad al futuro de Colombia y de sus regiones? Este artículo analiza la evolución y las perspectivas del cambio demográfico, com...

The new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, took office three days before it struck

The new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, took office three days before it struck

Colombia Se Levanta: Earthquake Relief 2026On August 10, 2026, a powerful earthquake struck western and central Colombia. Quibdó, Cali, Pereira and Manizales are among...

Emergencia Colombia Sismo

View the location of the quake’s epicenter and shake area.

View the location of the quake’s epicenter and shake area.

Share of 2-to-10-year-olds who are defined as stunted. Stunting is when a child is significantly shorter than the average for their age. It is a consequence of poor nutrition or repeated infection.

Share of 2-to-10-year-olds who are defined as stunted. Stunting is when a child is significantly shorter than the average for their age. It is a consequence of poor nutrition or repeated infection.

(Forthcoming Article) - We consider why fertility has fallen in recent decades in almost all high-income countries. We begin by documenting declining total fertility and rising childlessness across cohorts, highlighting the need to focus on cohort versus period-specific fertility rates. With this motivation, we propose a conceptual model of fertility determination that augments the standard Becker model with an explicit role for social norms and cohort-specific contextual factors, including broad social and economic influences and an expanded set of consumption and lifestyle options. We posit that these forces have led to “shifting priorities,” reducing the centrality of parenthood. We then review existing empirical evidence –and conclude that the decline in fertility likely reflects a complex mix of changing norms around work, parenting, gender roles, and leisure consistent with our cohort-based conceptual framework. We conclude with suggestions for future research and a brief discussion of policy implications.

Can radio campaigns affect fertility? This paper examines the impact of a national radio campaign promoting family planning clinics in late 1960s Colombia on the country’s rapid fertility decline. The

Can radio campaigns affect fertility? This paper examines the impact of a national radio campaign promoting family planning clinics in late 1960s Colombia on the country’s rapid fertility decline. The

This week we featured research on AI, gender, electrification, mobile money and more!

Using surnames, we show that colonial-era hierarchies continue to shape access to Colombia’s best schools and elite social networks, limiting intergenerational mobility through both education and marriage.

The demographic future of the planet has rarely been as questioned as it is today. For much of the 20th century, the demographic transition theory provided a clear narrative: With modernization and de...