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Population, Economy and Society

Population, Economy and Society. Sources of Demographic Data . Demographic Data. Censuses Def: a complete count of a population Census taking had its beginning in ancient times in Egypt, Babylonia, China and Palestine

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Population, Economy and Society

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  1. Population, Economy and Society Sources of Demographic Data

  2. Demographic Data • Censuses • Def: a complete count of a population • Census taking had its beginning in ancient times in Egypt, Babylonia, China and Palestine • The first census mentioned in the bible was taken at the time of the Exodus or about 1491 BC

  3. Data • The Romans took a census every 5 years for 800 years • The first modern censuses were in Quebec and Nova Scotia in about 1665 • In Europe, Sweden’s census of 1749, is considered the first • The first in the colonies was in Virginia in 1624

  4. Data • The first in the US was in 1790 and we have had one every 10 years since then • Note the difference between a census and a survey and note that the US effort is both! • The publication that result from the census are voluminous. They include: • the population of the US as a whole • the population of each state and territory • and then these broken down into:

  5. Data • counties, rural and urban areas, MSA’s and then of course by race, age, sex, marital status, etc. • There are also censuses of: • Business • Transportation • Housing • and others

  6. Data – The 2000 Census • The “Long” and “Short” forms – Remember that since 1940 we have included a sample as part of the census • The Short form has questions that are asked of everyone: 7 Questions • Name • Sex • Age • Relationship to head of household • Hispanic origin • Race • Owner/Renter status

  7. The 2000 Census • The Long form has the 7 questions from the short form but then asked additional questions from a 16% sample. • Actually 1 out of 6 overall but: • 1 in 8 in densely populated areas • 1 in 3 in less dense areas • It is 1 in 6 in Greenville and Greenville county!

  8. The 2000 Census • The Long form also contained questions on 34 subjects under three major headings: • Social characteristics • Economic characteristics • Housing characteristics • New questions are always being added for example in 2000 a question on caregiving for children was added! • There is one question that has never been asked that most sociologists would like to see!

  9. Data • The debate over the 2000 Census • A number of major issues: • Racial categories • Sampling • “Usual residence” • The quality of census data? • Nonsampling vs.Sampling Error • Nonsampling • Coverage • Content • Sampling

  10. Data • The US government also conducts a monthly survey which is an adjunct to the census • It is called the Current Population Survey or the CPS • The second major source of demographic data is vital statistics. These are data on births, deaths, illnesses, marriages and divorces. • The history of the development of vital statistics is much like that of censuses.

  11. Data • The “Bills of Mortality” are among the best which survived. Established by law in England in 1532. • They were recorded by parish priests. They recorded weddings, baptisms, burials, etc. • It was not until 1837 however that a central registration office for vital stats was established in England!

  12. Data • In the US • Responsibility for collection has principally fallen on the states rather than the federal gov’t • Mass. was the first to mandate it in1842. • By 1919 all of the states had registration systems but only for births and deaths! • The then territory of Alaska was the last to come into compliance (1950) - to comply at least 90% of births and deaths had to be recorded

  13. Data • All of this is put together by the National Center for Health Statistics in their monthly and annual reports called “The Monthly Vital Statistics Report: and “Vital Statistics of the United States”. • The national registration of marriages and divorces was not complete until 1958. • Population Registers • The quality of vital statistics data?

  14. Data • International Data Sources • 1. The United Nations • 2. The World Bank • 3. The Population Reference Bureau • 4. The US Bureau of the Census • 5. The CIA • Issues with the use of these data!

  15. Data • International Surveys • The World Fertility Survey (WFS) • The Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) • Historical data • The uses of such data • The quality of historical data?

  16. Data • What can these data be used for? • Business • Governments • Local • National (Both US and other countries) • Organizations • Research

  17. Data • Where can I go for data? • The Furman Library (A US Government Document Repository) • Your PC

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