Population An Introduction to Concepts and Issues

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Population An Introduction to Concepts and
Issues

• 10th EditionJohn R. Weeks

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Chapter 1

• Introduction to Demography

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Chapter Outline

• What Is Demography?
• Why Is Demography Important?
• How Will You Use This Information?

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World Population Distribution Defined by
Nighttime Lights

• Darker areas show where there are the most lights
  at night, suggestive of population distribution.

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What is Demography?

• The scientific study of human population.
• The term was coined in 1855 by Achille Guillard,
  who used it in the title of his book Éléments de
  Statistique Humaine ou Démographie Comparée.

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Demography

• Concerned with
• Population size
• Population growth or decline
• Population processes
• Population distribution
• Population structure
• Population characteristics

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The Past Is a Foreign Country
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The Past Is a Foreign Country
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The Past Is a Foreign Country
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Why is Demography Important?

• Global issues that have important demographic
  components include
• Terrorism and regional conflict
• Violence in sub-Saharan Africa
• Backlash against immigrants
• Globalization
• Degradation of the environment

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Degradation of the Environment

• Every person added to the population requires
  energy to prepare food, provide clothing and
  shelter, and fuel economic life.
• More than half a billion people face water
  scarcity.
• Two to three billion live in areas that are
  water-stressed.

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Demographics of Politics

• The Census of Population provides data for the
  apportionment of seats in the House of
  Representatives.
• Legislators ask questions about how population
  influences the programs
• Will increase in the older population bankrupt
  the Social Security system?
• Are undocumented immigrants creating an undue
  burden on the criminal justice systems in border
  counties?

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Demographics of Social Planning

• Local agencies use demographics to plan for
  services for their communities.
• Sickness and health are affected by
  sociodemographic characteristics and the demand
  for services shifts with demographic trends.

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Blue and Red States Reflecting Presidential
Elections in the U.S. and Mexico
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Business Demographics

• Demographics are an important component of site
  selection for many businesses.
• Investors use demographics to find areas of
  potential market growth.
• Human resource managers use demographics to
  increase their awareness of the special qualities
  and needs among their present and prospective
  employees.

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Marketing Demographics

• Segmenting markets - tailoring products and
  services to a specific demographic group
• Targeting - aiming the advertising of a product
  or service to a specific demographic group
• Cluster marketing relates demographic information
  about people to information about where they live.

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Riding the Age Wave Births and Selected Age
Groups in the U.S.