Le Bras Hervé. The Real Nature of the Birth Rate. What is a birth rate ? In this paper, we begin by demonstrating how this measure is constructed by means of a model, and we then compare the definitions proposed by a number of well known writers. It becomes clear that two contradictory notions...

SUMMARY In most analyses of populations, changes in the parameters are attributed to internal or external causes. This determinist point of view only deals with fluctuations in total numbers and excludes any other random effects. However, in population forecasting and in historical studies...

SUMMARY Automatic methods are used more frequently to describe, analyse and summarize demographic and social phenomena. In this paper, several different methods of classification are applied to our data (recent European life tables) to show how each may serve to illumine different matters. Some...

Le Bras Hervé and Artzrouni Marc. ? Interference, indifference and independence. Interference in demographic phenomena can be dealt with in two different ways, either by assuming the indifference of the two phenomena or by adopting the Markovian method of multiple decrement. An examination of...

Le Bras Hervé and Roussel Louis. ? Delay in Marriage or Refusal to Marry? Recent Movements in First Marriages in France and Prospects for the Future. Two series of age-specific rates of first marriage are studied (those for France and Sweden between 1972 and 1980). Simulation methods are used...

Le Bras Hervé and Chesnais Jean-Claude. Towns and Shanty Towns in Developing Countries : Demographic Structure and Habitat. In developed countries, the age distribution of the population of a given locality is closely related to the age of the housing stock. A number of factors contribute to...

Le Bras Hervé. ? Social Origins of a Cohort of Students of the Ecole Polytechnique. A year's intake of students to the Ecole Polytechnique were questioned about their families and social origin. From the 272 replies received some anomalies emerged. It was found that in this group the social...