Barbara A. Anderson

Barbara A. Anderson is the Ronald A. Freedman Collegiate Professor of Sociology and Population Studies at the University of Michigan, affiliated with the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA). She holds dual roles as Professor of Sociology and Research Professor in the Population Studies Center. Her affiliations include the Center for Russian, East European, & Eurasian Studies (CREES), African Studies Center, and the Weiser Center for Europe and Eurasia. Anderson earned her Ph.D. in Sociology from Princeton University in 1974.

Her research focuses on the interplay between social, economic, and demographic changes, with a particular emphasis on the Soviet Union/post-Soviet states, China, and South Africa. Key areas include historical demography, ethnic identity dynamics, and environmental perceptions. She has conducted extensive studies on infant and child survival, adult mortality trends, and the growing African middle class in South Africa. Her work often leverages high-quality data to address critical demographic questions in sub-Saharan Africa.

Anderson’s publications span over four decades, addressing topics such as fertility patterns in Russia, environmental health in South Africa, and the unintended consequences of policies on population dynamics. Her book World Population Dynamics: An Introduction to Demography provides a comparative and historical framework for understanding demographic shifts. Her research bridges methodological rigor with interdisciplinary insights, contributing to global debates on inequality, development, and policy.