In this paper we analyze the distribution of fertility rates across the world using parametric mixture models. We … demonstrate the existence of twin peaks and the division of the world's countries in two distinct components: a high-fertility … continue to exists over the whole observation period. In 1950 about two thirds of the world's countries belonged to the high-fertility …

"Economic demographers have long analyzed fertility cycles. This paper builds a foundation for these cycles in a model … of fertility choice with dynastic altruism and aggregate shocks. It is shown that under reasonable parameter values …, fertility is pro-cyclical and that, following a shock, fertility continues to cycle endogenously as subsequent cohorts enter …