Research
Since its founding by Ronald Freedman in 1961, the Population Studies Center has maintained a rich portfolio of research projects. PSC has long united and supported an exceptional group of population scientists in the design, creation, and use of new data to advance population science here and across the world. Much of this work has been funded by NICHD, NIA, other NIH institutes, NSF, and major foundations. Center faculty and students conduct population research in every region of the world. As the pressing problems and opportunities in population science have changed in the decades since our founding, our research has moved into new and exciting areas. Today, the Center’s interdisciplinary group of researchers is at the forefront of studies in key research areas, most centrally:
Today, the Center’s interdisciplinary group of researchers is at the forefront of studies in these research areas:
- Family and intergenerational influences on health and wellbeing
- Reproductive health, fertility, and romantic relationships
- Population health, life course, and biosocial processes
Featured Projects
Featured projects at the Institute for Social Research are housed at the Population Studies Center or receive major funding and support from the center.
- The Population Dynamics and Health Program (PDHP), which supports research in population health, is part of PSC.
- Using PSC’s facilities, the Social Science Data Analysis Network (SSDAN) is a university-based organization that makes U.S. census data accessible to policymakers, educators, the media, and informed citizens.
- PSC provides key support to the Chitwan Valley Family Study, a comprehensive family panel study of individuals, households, and communities in the Chitwan Valley of Nepal.
- Development Economics @ Michigan (MDEV) unites Michigan faculty, students and alumni to advance knowledge on reducing poverty and improving human well-being in developing countries. MDEV is housed at PSC and led by our affiliate, Dean Yang.
Explore the websites of our featured projects: