The Divergent Paths of Baby Boomers and Immigrants
The United States is in the midst of a major realignment of its population as the baby-boom generation ages into retirement and a smaller, strikingly different younger generation prepares to take over. Demographer Dowell Myers argues that this is a population shift of historic proportions. Unlike earlier demographic change, he says, this one brings the potential for conflict between the generations because of their divergent racial, ethnic, and nativity profiles—the older mainly white, the younger heavily minority and immigrant. (March 2007)

New Restrictions Could Limit U.S. Adoptions From Top Two Countries of Origin: China and Guatemala
Although the number of U.S. adoptions of foreign children has generally risen over the past decade, in recent years, that number has fluctuated. Changes in China's adoption criteria and the United States' plan to implement a global treaty on intercountry adoption could affect the number of children adopted from the top two countries of origin for foreign adoptions—currently China and Guatemala. One contributing factor: The vast majority of American children adopted from abroad come from just a handful of countries. (March 2007)

The NIA Demography Centers (PDF: 212KB)
This policy brief, part of the series Research Highlights in the Demography and Economics of Aging, describes the 13 Demography Centers funded by the National Institute on Aging, and the economic and demographic research the centers conduct with NIA funding. (March 2007)

Healthy Aging (PDF: 101KB)
This e-newsletter is the first in a series funded by the University of Michigan Demography Center. This issue, "Healthy Aging," reviews research from scientists funded by the National Institute on Aging that identify several factors that can improve the chances of staying healthy longer. (March 2007)

The Crossover in Female-Male College Enrollment Rates
Since 1991, the proportion of young women enrolled in college in the United States has exceeded the enrollment rate for young men, and the gap has widened over time. Women now make up the majority (54 percent) of the 11 million students enrolled in college. (February 2007)

Migration of Workers Affects Supply of Scientists and Engineers in U.S.
For workers in science and engineering occupations in the United States, according to a PRB analysis, migration plays a more important role than for other employees. About 4 percent of the science and engineering workforce moved to a new state between 2003 and 2004, a slightly higher proportion than among other civilian occupations. (February 2007)

PopWire: New U.S. State Population Estimates
The Census Bureau released state population estimates for July 2006 that show a continuing loss of people from the Northeast and Midwest, and gains in the West and South. One symbol of that change: North Carolina has replaced New Jersey as the 10th largest state. (January 2007)

Do Parents Spend Enough Time With Their Children?
Recently published research concludes that today's mothers and fathers spend at least as many hours caring for their children each week as parents did four decades ago. But many parents believe they spend too little time with their sons and daughters, which some researchers suggest could reflect today's beliefs in "intensive parenting." (January 2007)

Census Bureau Plans to Eliminate 'Foster Child' Category
The U.S. Census Bureau plans to eliminate the "foster child" relationship category on its questionnaires for the 2010 Census and the American Community Survey. They will be counted with other children, but foster children's characteristics as a group will not be available. (January 2007)

Immigration: Shaping and Reshaping America

 The 2nd edition of this popular Population Bulletin examines current immigration patterns and policies in the United States, reviews immigration flows, and provides an historical perspective on contemporary migration. (BUL61.4, December 2006)