Image
Loading...
Sanford faculty members M. Giovanna Merli and Marcos Rangel, alongside Duke Sociology’s Hedy Lee, have been selected to lead and shape the future of Demography, the flagship journal of the Population Association of America. This appointment, starting July 1, 2025, underscores Duke University’s pivotal role in interdisciplinary population research.
M. Giovanna Merli, Professor of Public Policy and Sociology, and Director of the Duke University Population Research Institute (DUPRI), Marcos A. Rangel, Professor of Public Policy and Economics, and Hedy Lee, James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Sociology, will serve as co-editors of Demography. Their leadership will be bolstered by Christina Gibson-Davis, Professor of Public Policy, who will serve as a deputy editor, alongside a team of distinguished scholars from across Duke and the nation. This selection marks a significant achievement for DUPRI, demonstrating the depth and breadth of our scholars’ expertise and collaborative networks. Notably, this is the third time in the past three decades that DUPRI scholars have been chosen to lead Demography, a testament to our sustained excellence in this critical field. The co-editors’ vision for Demography is ambitious and forward-thinking, as they aim to maintain the journal’s focus on core demographic topics, highlight impactful research in social, economic, and health demography, address timely societal issues through the lens of demographic analysis, and foster interdisciplinary research that integrates demographic perspectives with fields such as biology, economics, and environmental sciences.
"Understanding demography is crucial for public policy," says Merli. "Some of the most important demographic questions facing policymakers around the world today are concerned with the consequences of population change and structures: rapid age structure changes, the interaction between population and the environment, and the implications of changes in population composition for social inequality."
Image
Rangel emphasizes the discipline’s critical role in informing policy decisions: “Demographic methods and analyses play a crucial role in ensuring the accuracy of data that informs public policy decisions worldwide. The discipline’s core commitment to the quality of measurement and population representativeness of information is especially important in today’s world.”
Hedy Lee adds, “Demography is foundational to how we understand life and death. Demographic methods have been instrumental for understanding the nature, causes, and consequences of pressing societal issues, such as COVID-19 transmission, declining fertility, rising life expectancy, especially at older ages, and immigration patterns. Demography also provides us with tools to better predict future patterns of life expectancy, mortality, and migration and the implications of these futures for population well-being.”
This appointment builds on Demography’s recent transition to an open-access platform with Duke University Press, which has expanded the journal’s reach and impact. The leadership of Sanford faculty, alongside Lee, will further enhance the journal’s influence, ensuring that it remains a vital resource for scholars and policymakers alike.
Image
Their leadership of Demography will undoubtedly advance our understanding of population dynamics and their implications for society, reinforcing Duke's position as a leader in vital research that shapes the world.
"This appointment reflects the exceptional caliber of our faculty and their dedication to addressing critical societal challenges," said Manoj Mohanan, Interim Dean of the Sanford School of Public Policy. "Professors Merli and Rangel exemplify the mission of rigorous research leading to real-world impact. Their leadership of Demography will not only elevate the journal's influence but also inspire our students and the broader community to engage in meaningful public service. We are incredibly proud of their accomplishment and look forward to the contributions they will make as editors.”