[Economic development, social policies, and population]

Using data for Latin America, "this paper analyses the [potential] of using social policies in connection with policies to affect demographic behaviour.... It shows that there is a coincidence between the interests of the countries, as expressed by the national governments, and the demographic wishes of couples.... It shows that to a certain extent, it is possible to...[implement] social and population policies that are relatively independent from the economic situation. The document also discusses the role of social scientists...[and central and local governments] in the elaboration and execution of policies in general, and socio-demographic polices in particular...." (SUMMARY IN ENG)