Population and Disease: Transforming English Society, 1550-1850 By Peter Razzell

This book challenges a number of leading ideas in demography, epidemiology, economic history and historical sociology. The topics discussed include demographic transition theory, cohort patterns of mortality, life table models and the relationship between height, status stress, poverty and mortality. One of the book’s aims is to explore the exogenous role of population change, mainly shaped by shifts in mortality. Detailed evidence is presented to suggest that adult mortality was stable in England throughout the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, but nearly halved during the eighteenth century, with much of the mortality reduction occurring between 1700 and 1750. By contrast, infant and child mortality approximately doubled between 1550 and 1750, before reducing sharply at the end of the eighteenth and beginning of the nineteenth century. The data presented indicates that demography is a key discipline for understanding English society in the period 1550-1850, with population growth playing a central role in the development of capitalism and the transformation of economic and social life. A parallel is drawn between England’s development and that occurring currently in the developing world, with large exogenous increases in population resulting in widespread poverty and social inequality. The book is an edited version of ten essays written during the last decade, six of which have been published previously in leading journals.

The four unpublished essays include new material on England’s demographic, economic and social history, as well as a previously unpublished essay on international demographic and economic development.

En octobre 2004 a eu lieu au Centre culturel de rencontre Abbaye Neumünster un colloque international de deux jours intitulé " Les changements démographiques et leurs répercussions sur les différentes parties de la Grande Région ". Il a été organisé par la fondation Forum EUROPA, sous le haut patronage du gouvernement luxembourgeois et avec le soutien financier du Fonds national de la recherche, de la ASKO EUROPA-STIFTUNG et de la Fondation Alphonse Weicker. 22 intervenants originaires de disciplines scientifiques diverses et provenant des quatre coins de la Grande Région, et même au-delà, ont eu pour la première fois l'occasion de faire connaissance et d'échanger leurs expériences et leurs connaissances. Les résultats complets de cette rencontre se trouvent réunis dans ce 1er ouvrage de la collection " Forum Europa ". La collection " Forum Europa " est une initiative commune de la fondation Forum EUROPA et des éditions saint-paul (Luxembourg). Elle sera principalement consacrée à la Grande Région SarLorLux/Rhénanie-Palatinat/ Wallonie, à la coopération transfrontalière, de façon générale, et à des questions d'une portée européenne.

Claude Gengler (Hrsg./dir.): Der demografische Wandel in der Großregion - Les changements démographiques dans la Grande Région. Collection/Schriftenreihe "Forum Europa", éditions saint-paul, Luxembourg, ISBN 2-87963-594-2, 294 p. (impression quadri, ouvrage bilingue D + F, adresse de commande: editions@editions.lu, prix de vente: 24,90 EUR)

New publication: "Démographie 2000:une enquête internationale par Internet auprès des démographes" Louvain-la-Neuve.Académia-Bruylant. 368 pages.

Information on the world community of demographers is relatively scarce. To improve the availability of data, an international survey was launched at the end of the year 2000 with the objective to collect 3 types of information on the demographic profiles and professional itineraries of persons involved in population sciences, on their perceptions of current problems faced by the discipline and finally on their opinions on the future of demography. . The research has been conducted under the leadership of two members of the Institut national d'études démographiques, J-C Chasteland and L Roussel and of one member at the Université Catholique de Louvain-la-Neuve, M Loriaux. They were supported by an international team composed of Alexander Avdeev (Universities de Moscow and of Strasbourg), Maire Ni Brhrolchain (University of Southampton), Guiseppe Micheli (Universita Cattolica.Milano), and Anatole Romaniuc (University of Alberta, Ontario) and Tatiana Vichevskaia (Ined).

This survey is experimental to the extent that the data were collected through Internet, bypassing the traditional steps of interviews on a written questionnaire of a randomly selected sample of persons. More than 600 persons (637) from 70 countries volunteered to answer a detailed questionnaire which was accessible on several Internet sites or sent by e-mail to members of various professional associations. It is also innovative to the extent that a new method of analysis of the networks of co-occurrences among answers , was used.(Analyse relationnelle Réseau-LU). As far as possible, the answers were examined in the context of the evolution of demography over time The controversial question of the identity of the discipline in relation to its place among other social sciences or among natural sciences always close, was also reviewed in the light of the answers given by the respondents.

 

Nouvelle publication:
"Démographie 2000 :une enquête internationale par Internet auprès des démographes" Louvain-la-Neuve.Académia-Bruylant.368 pages.

Bien que la communauté des démographes soit largement représentée à travers le monde, on sait assez peu de choses sur elle.C'est pour pallier cette carence qu'une enquête internationale a été lancée à la fin de l'année 2000 avec 3 objectifs : mieux cerner le profil démographique et les trajectoires professionnelles de ceux qui mènent des travaux en sciences de la population : explorer leur perception des problèmes qui se posent actuellement à la discipline et finalement connaître leurs opinions sur l'avenir de celle-ci.

La recherche a été conduite sous la direction de deux membres de l' Institut national d'études démographiques, J-C Chasteland et L Roussel et d'un membre de L'Université catholique de Louvain-la-Neuve, M Loriaux.Ils se sont entourés d'une équipe internationale de chercheurs qui comprenait : Alexander Avdeev (Universités de Moscou et de Strasbourg), Maire Ni Brhrolchain (University of Southampton), Guiseppe Micheli (Universita Cattolica.Milano), Anatole Romaniuc (University of Alberta.Ontario) et Tatiana Vichevskaia ( Ined ).

Cette enquête a un caractère expérimental dans la mesure où la collecte des données :a été réalisée via Internet, sans passer par l'étape traditionnelle de tirage d'un échantillon aléatoire et de l'interview à partir d'un questionnaire des personnes ainsi choisies.Quelque six cents (637) démographes originaires de 70 pays ont spontanément répondu à un questionnaire très complet disponible sur plusieurs portails Internet et envoyé également par courrier électronique aux membres de l'UIESP et d'autres associations professionnelles.
L'enquête est aussi innovative dans la mesure où une nouvelle méthode d'analyse des réseaux de co-occurrence des réponses (approche relationnelle Réseau-Lu) a été utilisée .Dans la mesure du possible les réponses sont analysées dans le contexte de l'évolution de la démographie au cours du temps . En examinant également la place que les répondants assignent à la démographie au sein de la grande famille des sciences sociales et aussi de celle des sciences de la nature, toujours proches ,l 'ouvrage aborde la question controversée de l'identité de la discipline.

Cette publication est disponible pour la somme de 42 Euros chez l'éditeur:

This publication is available for 42 Euros at the publisher's address:

Editions Academia-Bruylant

Grand'Place, 29

1348 Louvain-la-Neuve

(Belgique)

Email : academia.bruylant@skynet.be

Tel : 32 10 45 23 95

Fax : 32 10 45 44 80

www.academia-bruylant.be

Modelling Geographical Systems: Statistical and Computational Applications0
Edited by Barry Boots, Atsuyuki Okabe, Richard Thomas

This book presents a representative selection of innovative ideas currently shaping the development and testing of geographical systems models by means of statistical and computational approaches. Collectively, the contributions span all geographic scales, deal with both individuals and aggregates, and represent natural, human, and integrated spatial systems. Reflecting current concerns for relevance, each paper has an applied component relating to one or more contemporary issues.

Modelling Geographical Systems is relevant to researchers, postgraduates, final-year undergraduates and professionals in the areas of quantitative geography, spatial analysis, spatial modelling, and geographical information sciences.

August 2003, 368 pp. ISBN 1-4020-0821-X, Kluwer Academic Publishers - GEOJOURNAL LIBRARY 70

Further information www.wkap.nl/prod/b/1-4020-0821-X

Posted in September 2003 / Publié en septembre 2003

The Demography of African Americans 1930-1990
by Samuel H. Preston, Irma T. Elo, Mark E. Hill, Ira Rosenwaike

Reviews
Preston, Elo, and colleagues provide a definitive reconstruction of the demographic history of African Americans in the 20th century. Finally we have an accurate indication of the deplorable conditions that this population experienced in the past and continues to face today. That this history could only be recovered from flawed data at great effort speaks volumes about their second-class citizenship. That their life expectancy remains below that of citizens in some Third World nations today speaks of the great distance that lies before us on the road to racial equality. - Doug Massey, Princeton University, USA

This thorough study helps fill in the demographic history of the African-American population. With the development of consistent sets of population estimates over the 60 year period (1930 - 1990), the work increases our understanding of the quality of the census data and the completeness of coverage of the African-American population. One of the important results is the disentanglement of the age, period, and cohort effects on coverage. - J. Gregory Robinson, U.S. Bureau of the Census

August 2003, 224 pp. ISBN 1-4020-1550-X, Kluwer Academic Publishers -THE PLENUM SERIES ON DEMOGRAPHIC METHODS AND POPULATION ANALYSIS

Further information www.wkap.nl/prod/b/ 1-4020-1550-X

Posted in September 2003 / Publié en septembre 2003

The Quality of Life in Korea: Comparative and Dynamic Perspectives
Edited by Doh Chull Shin, Conrad P. Rutkowski, Chong-Min Park

This is the first volume ever published to examine the objective and subjective qualities of Korean life from both comparative and dynamic perspectives. It presents non-Western policy alternatives to enhancing the quality of citizens' lives, distinguishing Korea as an Asian model of economic prosperity and political democracy.

The book is intended for academics, policy makers and the general public interested in recent developments in Korea.

April 2003, 544 pp. ISBN 1-4020-0947-X, Kluwer Academic Publishers - SOCIAL INDICATORS RESEARCH SERIES 14

Further information www.wkap.nl/prod/b/ 1-4020-0947-X

Posted in September 2003 / Publié en septembre 2003

The Rapid Growth of Human Populations 1750 - 2000
by William Stanton

There is nothing new in the observation that as population levels continue to rise, then sooner or later, if policy makers don¹t react, we will run into unsustainability - a soothing term for what is likely to be a series of disasters, quite possibly taking the extreme forms of war and famine.

As well as an excellent analysis of the issues, the really new thing that Stanton brings to the debate is the presentation of evidence in a way that has not been done before. He has gone through the data and compiled demographic histories of all the world¹s countries, in the form of graphs, for the last 250 years. For the first time the general reader - or policy maker for that matter - is confronted with the overwhelming evidence of massive worldwide population growth, in a plain pictorial form that cannot be wished away or misunderstood. As a consciousness-raising tool of the scale of the problem, Stanton's book is without peer.

2003, Multi-Science Publishing Company Ltd, 230p, £25.00, ISBN 0 906522 21 8

Posted in September 2003 / Publié en septembre 2003

The Demographic Dividend: A New Perspective on the Economic Consequences of Population Change
by Bloom, Canning, and Sevilla

The RAND Population Matters program's latest report, The Demographic Dividend: A New Perspective on the Economic Consequences of Population Change, by Bloom, Canning, and Sevilla, synthesizes recent population dynamics research and its impact on economic development. The report also examines relationships between population change & economic growth in specific world regions and discusses the importance of the policy environment required for nations to economically benefit from the transition to lower fertility rates. The authors find that developing countries can make opportunities for economic growth by reducing high fertility rates. Taking advantage of the opportunities depends on enacting policies supporting health care, job markets & education. RAND has also issued a policy brief, Banking the 'Demographic Dividend': How Population Dynamics Can Affect Economic Growth, summarizing main findings & implications of the report.

The Population Matters project is designed to synthesize and communicate policy-relevant results of demographic research. The program has two main goals:

Their publications are available in electronic form (http://www.rand.org/labor/popmatters). You can also register there for the Population Matters listserv if you wish to receive notice of future publications.

Posted in February 2003 / Publié en février 2003

International Handbook of Urban Systems Studies of Urbanization and Migration in Advanced and Developing Countries
ed. H.S. Geyer, 2002, Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd

1-84064-900-3, 640pp, hardback, £125.00

Contents: Preface Part I: Theoretical Fundamentals Part II: Empirical Findings A. Western European Countries B. Nordic and Central European Countries C. American Countries D. Asian Countries E. African Countries Index

Contributors: G.A. Aguilar, C.C. Bae, R.R. Baeninger, T. Baycan-Levent, L.S. Bourne, A.G. Champion, A.J. Fielding, W. Frey, P. Gans, H.S. Geyer, E. Goede, B. Graizbord, E. Heikkilä, I. Ianos, T. Järvinen, I. Jazdzewska, M. Jun, F.-J. Kemper, S. Mukherji, P. Nijkamp, P. Petsimeris, D. Pumain, H.W. Richardson, Z. Rykiel, J.W. Simmons, I.J. van der Merwe

Posted in December 2002 / Publié en décembre 2002

NEW IN PAPERBACK Population Matters: Demographic Change, Economic Growth, and Poverty in the Developing World
eds. Nancy Birdsall, Allen C. Kelley and Steven Sinding, 2001, Oxford University Press

0-19-926186-5, 456 pp., illus., paperback, £19.99, January 2003
Further information.

Posted in October 2002 / Publié en octobre 2002

Asian MetaCentre Research Paper Series No. 6

The Asian MetaCentre has recently published the Asian MetaCentre Research Paper Series No. 6 entitled "Health Consequences of Population Changes in Asia: What Are the Issues?" (September 2002). This report is part of an ongoing process that will help the MetaCentre and scholars of the region better understand the important research questions which address health and population change in the Asian context. It developed from discussions that took place during a 2-day workshop "Health Consequences of Population Changes in Asia: What Are the Issues?" held in conjunction with the 1st IUSSP Southeast Asia Regional Population Conference in Bangkok from 13-14 June 2002. The report can be viewed from the Asian MetaCentre's website at www.populationasia.org/research_paper_series.htm.

Posted in September 2002 / Publié en septembre 2002

Asia-Pacifc Population Journal (APPJ): Special Issue on 'Gender, Family and Fertility in Asia'

We are pleased to annouce the publication of the APPJ Special Issue on 'Gender, Family and Fertility in Asia (Vol. 17, No. 2, June 2002 issue), by the united Nations Economic and Social Commission of Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). This special issue is a collection of 6 selected papers presented in the Workshop on Fertility Decline, Below Replacement Fertility and the Family in Asia" which was held in Singapore in April 2002. Ordering information of the journal special issue is available here. The articles are also downloadable in PDF format from the site.

Posted in September 2002 / Publié en septembre 2002

African Population in the 21st Century, Volume 5

Table of contents / Table des matières

Orders / Commandes:
UAPS / UEPA
B.P. 21007 Dakar
Senegal
E-mail: uaps@sentoo.sn

Posted in June 2002 / Publié en juin 2002

Latest Publicationsfrom CEPED / Nouvelles Publicationsdu CEPED
Dossiers du CEPED
68 - Politique de population et planification famille en Côte d'Ivoire, Amoakon Anoh, Raïmi Fassassi, Patrice Vimard.
69 - Contexte économique et socio-politique de la santé publique au Rwanda: de 1900 à 1992, Albert-Enéas Gakusi, Michel Garenne
70 - Différences entre filles et garçons: une revue des indicateurs sanitaires en Afrique subsaharienne, Michel Garenne

Orders / Commandes:
CEPED, Service Diffusion
15, rue de l’Ecole de Médecine
75270 Paris Cedex 06
France

Posted in March 2002 / Publié en mars 2002