Spatial differentiation of the socioeconomic composition of the population

Differences in population characteristics among the administrative districts of Poland are analyzed. The characteristics examined include density, place of employment, urban population growth, population employed in agriculture, and migration.     

The nationality structure of the population of the USSR

The ethnic composition of the USSR is described using data from the 1979 census of population. Tables provide information for the country as a whole and for individual republics and autonomous districts on nationality, the number of people who speak Russian fluently, and those who consider Russian their native language.     

The impact of population age structure on vital rates

The impact of the age structure of the population on international comparisons of vital statistics data is considered. The author attempts to recalculate vital rates for selected European countries using a common age distribution of the population.     

All-Union population census: family structure

This is a continuation of a previous series of tables on family structure in the USSR, based on data from the 1979 census. Data are included on the size and nationality of families among the urban, rural, and total populations of each Union Republic.     

The population of the USSR

Official population data for the USSR for 1986 and 1987 are presented. Tables are included on age and sex distribution; rural and urban population; birth, death, and natural increase rates, 1970-1986; fertility and mortality by sex, 1970-1986; birth order; age-specific birth rates by rural and urban area and Union republic; age-specific death rates, 1970-1986; infant mortality, 1970-1986; life expectancy, 1926-1986; life tables; marriage and age at marriage; and divorce.     

The population policy of the USSR

Developments in population policy in the USSR are outlined in this editorial. Mention is made of achievements in lowering mortality, particularly in the 1950s and 1970s. Recently adopted pro-natalist measures are described, and the results are stated to ba a rise in the birth rate in 1983 that was sustained in 1984 and 1985. Attention is also given to policies designed to encourage labor migration in response to labor shortages in some regions.     

Multiple population covariance structure analysis under arbitrary distribution theory

This paper states and proves the asymptotic properties of constrained generalized least squares estimators in the analysis of covariance structures in multiple populations with arbitrary distributions of variables. Asymptotic chi-square tests are also presented to permit evaluation of the goodness-of-fit of models. The currently known results for multiple population models based on variables that are multivariate normally distributed are obtained as a special case.     

The spatial and socio-occupational mobility of the population

The author describes topics included in a study of spatial, social, and occupational mobility in Poland. These include rural migration, the effect of the family life cycle on migration, the social impact of migration, the effect of migration on spatial distribution, and migration prospects until the end of this century.     

The accuracy of population projections

A review of past population projection errors is presented as a means for constructing confidence intervals for future projections. The author first defines a statistic to measure projection errors independent of the size of population and the length of the projection period. A sample of U.S. and U.N. projections is used to show that the distributions of components of the error statistic are relatively stable. This information is then used to construct confidence intervals for the U.S. population up to the year 2000.     

The trial population census

The author describes the trial population census that was scheduled to take place in the USSR in December 1986 to test methodology, programs, and computational techniques to be used in the 1989 census. The sample for the trial census was 800,000 individuals residing in various parts of the country.     

The accuracy of population censuses in the United States

Methods that have been used or suggested to improve the accuracy of the U.S. census are reviewed. The author notes that self-completed questionnaires yield better results than those completed by census enumerators. The use of sample surveys carried out as part of the census process is described.     

The demography of the decline in the British willow warbler population

Since 1989, there has been a major and unprecedented decline in the breeding population of willow warblers ( Phylloscopus trochilus ) in southern Britain. Between 1986 and 1993 the numbers of willow warbler territories counted on monitoring plots declined by 47% in southern Britain, compared to a decline of 7% in northern Britain. Breeding densities of willow warblers are generally higher in the north and west of Britain, than in the south. Data from nest record cards provided evidence of only minor regional differences in breeding performance with a small but significant increase in the loss rate of nests during the nestling stage in 1989-1992 in southern Britain, compared with 1974-1988. Mark-recapture data collected at 18 constant effort sites and from one intensive study were used to estimate apparent survival rates of adults during the period 1987-1993. Program SURGE4 was used to test for differences in survival rates and recapture probabilities between years, sexes, sites and regions. Recapture probabilities differed between sites and between the sexes but not between years. Survival rates differed significantly between years (in southern Britain) but not between sexes or sites. In southern Britain, adult survival declined from 45% during 1987-1988 to 24% during 1991-1992, while in northern Britain there was no evidence that survival changed during the same period. Although the pattern of annual variation in survival differed between northern and southern Britain, this was due mainly to a much lower survival rate in southern Britain during 1991-1992. Declining survival rates of adult willow warblers have probably been a major cause of the observed population decline.     

The 1989 all-Union population census

Selected results for Tajikistan and Armenia are presented from the 1989 Soviet census. The data concern population by ethnic group and language.     

The 1989 all-Union population census

Selected results from the 1989 Soviet census are presented. They concern the population of the USSR by nationality or ethnic group and language. These data are also provided separately for the Russian and Ukrainian republics.     

The 1989 all-Union population census

Selected results are presented from the 1989 Soviet census. They concern the Belorussian and Uzbek republics and include data on population by ethnic group and language.