The role of the Scientific Advisory Board is to advise the Directors and staff members of the Institute. The Board evaluate the work of the Institute every two years. They make recommendations, and signal whether changes in Institute activities are called for. All members of the Scientific Advisory Board are internationally recognized scientists. They are appointed by the President of the Max Planck Society. The current members of the Scientific Advisory Board are:

Prof. Anna Cabré, Centre d'Estudis Demogràfics, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain

Prof. Dr. Timothy W. Guinnane, Department of Economics, Yale University, New Haven, USA

Prof. Dr. Johannes Huinink, University of Bremen, Germany

Prof. Dr. Aart Liefbroer, Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute, The Hague, The Netherlands

Prof. Dr. Michael Murphy, London School of Economics (LSE), United Kingdom

Prof. Dr. Jacques Vallin, Institut national d'études démographiques (INED), Paris, France

Prof. Dr. Rudi G. J. Westendorp, Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands