Research finds that the global fertility decline is chiefly caused by increased women’s autonomy, education, and career aspirations—combined with slow shifts in male roles and societal support structures. While this creates serious demographic and economic challenges, lower fertility also presents new opportunities for societies to invest in human capital, and benefit from reduced pressure on resources.

New research shows that when population growth is valued alongside per capita consumption, global welfare gains are much larger and country growth rankings are dramatically reshuffled. Meanwhile, empirical evidence reveals that fertility rates are much more responsive to anti-fertility policies than to pro-fertility ones, suggesting that reversing demographic decline is harder than expected.

Happiness level in 2021, by country. Easterlin defends his paradox.

Demographics, automation and climate policies.

The global population is aging. This demographic shift will present the US with particularly acute problems.

Population aging is putting pressure on pay-as-you go pension systems. Can informational nudges lead to higher retirement savings?

Fertility rates have decreased everywhere in the world. This newsletter includes interesting research on the effect of reduced fertility on democracy and the gender balance.