Dr. Clara E. Piano, Visiting Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Mississippi, will be giving a talk titled “What Influences the Supply and Demand of Children?” Her short description: “Birth rates are falling around the world. This is not only true in developed countries, like the United States (1.6 children per woman), but also in developing economies, such as Mexico (1.5 children per woman). In order to understand why birth rates are declining, economists ask: What influences the demand and supply of children? This talk will provide an overview of the latest fertility statistics, the primary determinants of birth rates, and explore potential policy contributions.”