Applied Demography: Its Current Scope and Future Direction in the United States
Abstract
Not many years ago, applied demography was little more than a collection of activities on the periphery of academic research. Now these activities are coalescing into a recognizable field of endeavor as demographers apply their specialized knowledge and technical skills to a widening arena of problems. What does this field now encompass, how has it evolved, and where is it headed? What distinctive contributions are applied demographers making? I shall offer an overview of how demographic analysis is being applied in the public sector and especially the business world. My emphasis will be on (1) the scope of applications, (2) the structures that are emerging, and (3) future directions of growth over the next several years. Major points are: 1. Applied demography is driven by problems; it is not a theory-directed body of knowledge. Its evolution therefore mirrors contemporary issues to which demographic perspectives and data apply. 2. Professionally, applied demographers are diversely situated but linked through a national network of personal contacts. Many work for state and regional governmental agencies; some are employed within the commercial data industry; a few operate as entrepreneurs. 3. Factors underlying its growth include newly available data for matching information on individual consumers and heightened competitive pressures within recently deregulated U.S. markets.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA228088
Entities
People
- Peter A. Morrison
Organizations
- RAND Corporation