Seminar "Social and spatial connectivity and demographic change: An innovative analytical approach based on micro-level census data"
The International Laboratory Population and Health of the HSE cordially invites you to the next session of the scientific seminar "Modern Demography," which will be held on October 18, 2017 at 16:00. Our guest is Sebastian Klüsener, Deputy Head of the Laboratory of Fertility and Well-Being (Max-Planck Institure for Demographic Research).Topic of the session is "Social and spatial connectivity and demographic change: An innovative analytical approach based on micro-level census data"
Time: Wednesday, October 18, 16-00 - 18-00
Working language is English.
Venue: Bolshoy Trehsvyatitelsky pereulok, 3, Room 511.
Abstract
Over the last decades large individual-level census datasets have become increasingly accessible to researchers.Such data, which are also available for Russia, offer huge potential for analyses that look at the interplay between individuals and socioeconomic regional macro-level conditions. This presentation provides an example how to make use of this potential. We take an innovative approach to explore which elements of the fertility decline patterns by social classes and regions that were observed during the demographic transition could potentially stem from communication processes in which individuals exchange information relevant for the behavioral change. These patterns include that higher classes and cities were experiencing the decline first, and that the decline was spatially more homogenous among the upper compared to the lower classes. With this we contribute to the debate whether the fertility transition was rather driven by the adaptation to changing socioeconomic conditions or the diffusion of information. While there is strong empirical evidence for the former, support for the latter is frequently weaker as communication processes are more difficult to measure than socioeconomic change. Based on data for Sweden and Senegal we specify agent-based simulation models in which migration links between regions stratified by social status serve as proxies for communication links among which we let information diffuse. Our models demonstrate that virtually all major social and spatiotemporal characteristics of the fertility decline that were observed in many countries around the world could potentially stem from communication processes structured by variation in communication links.
If you need to order a pass to the building of the HSE, please inform about your participation by e-mail stimonin@hse.ru (Sergei Timonin) by 12.00 on October 18, 2017.