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Call for papers
“Changing Fertility Preferences and Understanding Recent Fertility Decline”
Office of Population Research, Princeton University (November 13–14, 2026)

We are pleased to invite submissions for a small interdisciplinary workshop on Changing Fertility Preferences and Understanding Recent Fertility Decline, to be held at the Office of Population Research, Princeton University, on November 13–14, 2026. The workshop is organized by Alícia Adserà and Jim Raymo and supported by the Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies (PIIRS) and OPR.

This interdisciplinary workshop will focus on new approaches to understanding fertility change, with particular attention to the measurement of fertility preferences and to factors explaining changing fertility behavior across different world regions. We are especially interested in papers that examine settings beyond the traditional low-fertility contexts, including countries and regions experiencing more recent or rapid fertility decline.

Possible topics include, but are not limited to:

• the limits of standard economic, demographic, or cultural explanations for recent fertility decline;
• changes in the meaning or value of children and parenthood;
• fertility change in regions beyond Europe and East Asia, including middle-income and developing countries;
• the role of gender, labor markets, family change, and social norms in shaping fertility outcomes;
• new methodological approaches to studying fertility preferences and behavior.

Our goal is to create a small-group setting for two days of intensive discussion, with substantial time devoted to feedback after each presentation.

Please submit either a full paper or an advanced draft through this online form by August 25, 2026. Proposals that include a full paper will receive priority consideration. Decisions will be made by September 15.

The organizers will provide hotel accommodation (up to two nights) and meals during the workshop. Participants are expected to make their own travel arrangements and cover their own travel expenses. Limited financial assistance may be available to help offset travel expenses for junior scholars.

Organizers: Alícia Adserà, Princeton University James Raymo, Princeton University