Concepts, Methods and Practical Applications in Applied Demography

This textbook offers a comprehensive overview of applied demography by presenting both basic concepts and methodological techniques. It helps students from the social and human sciences, demographers, consultants and anyone interested in applied demography to gain an understanding of a wide range of practical applications to real-world problems. Through featured sidebars that highlight relevant terms and concepts and the case studies and exercises throughout, the book helps gain a first-hand experience in applied demography. Charts and graphs further demonstrate the discussed concepts and in addition, a glossary provides a complete inventory of relevant terms. The first section reviews basic components of the science of applied demography as a context for understanding and addressing societal issues. It details the methods, techniques and data sources used by applied demographers. Coverage includes cohort analysis, data standardization, population estimation, and the use of geographic information systems (GIS) in demography. The second part focuses on the substantive areas in which demography is currently applied. The topics covered include business demography, health demography, political demography, educational demography, and applications to urban and regional planning. The author also shows the many ways demographers contribute to the formulation of public policy and the resolution of societal issues.