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Header Newsletter

Population Europe Newsletter - December 2020

Demography drives your future

This is the newsletter of Population Europe, the network of Europe's leading demographic research centres.

Books and Reports
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Books and Reports: Developments in Demographic Forecasting
This open access book presents new developments in the field of demographic forecasting, covering mortality, fertility and migration. For each component emerging methods to forecast them are presented. Moreover, instruments for forecasting evaluation are provided.

This open access book presents new developments in the field of demographic forecasting, covering mortality, fertility and migration. For each component emerging methods to forecast them are presented. Moreover, instruments for forecasting evaluation are provided.

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Books and Reports: 16th International Review of Leave Policies and Related Research 2020
The International Network on Leave Policies and Research produces an annual review of leave policies and related research, covering Maternity, Paternity and Parental leaves; leave to care for sick children and other employment-related measures to support working parents; and early childhood education and care policy.

The International Network on Leave Policies and Research produces an annual review of leave policies and related research, covering Maternity, Paternity and Parental leaves; leave to care for sick children and other employment-related measures to support working parents; and early childhood education and care policy.

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Books and Reports: OECD International Migration Outlook 2020
The 2020 edition of the OECD International Migration Outlook analyses recent developments in migration movements and policies in OECD countries and some non-member countries, and looks at the evolution of the labour market outcomes of immigrants in OECD countries.

The 2020 edition of the OECD International Migration Outlook analyses recent developments in migration movements and policies in OECD countries and some non-member countries, and looks at the evolution of the labour market outcomes of immigrants in OECD countries.

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Books and Reports: Depopulation as a Policy Challenge in the Context of Global Demographic Trends
Depopulation is a recurring theme, but its contemporary causes tell a new story. Population decline today is the partial result of a natural development process. A smaller population does not have to be the defining factor of a country in economic or geopolitical considerations. A population’s composition is more consequential than simply its size.

This report from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), written by Wolfgang Lutz and Nicholas Gailey, addresses depopulation from a multi-dimensional demographic perspective, not only looking at population size and age structure, but also differentiating by level of education and labor force participation.

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Books and Reports: Translating Migration Theory Into Empirical Propositions
This report from the QuantMig project sets out to translate migration theory into empirically testable propositions. Drawing actively on elements from different corners of the fragmented landscape of migration theory, the authors formulate ten propositions, selected based on their relevance to current societal and academic debates on international migration, its dynamics and patterns. 

This report from the QuantMig project sets out to translate migration theory into empirically testable propositions. Drawing actively on elements from different corners of the fragmented landscape of migration theory, the authors formulate ten propositions, selected based on their relevance to current societal and academic debates on international migration, its dynamics and patterns. 

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Books and Reports: The Use of Migration Scenarios in Future Characterisations: A Systematic Review and Typology
This report from the QuantMig project, by Michaël Boissonneault, Jarl Mooyaart, Petra de Jong and Helga de Valk sets out to examine how migration scenarios are used in the literature presenting characterisations of societies’ futures.

This report from the QuantMig project, by Michaël Boissonneault, Jarl Mooyaart, Petra de Jong and Helga de Valk sets out to examine how migration scenarios are used in the literature presenting characterisations of societies’ futures.

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Books and Reports: Comparing and Contrasting the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the European Union
From Linda Hantrais (Loughborough University & London School of Economics and Political Science) and Marie-Thérèse Letablier (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) & Centre d’Economie de la Sorbonne), this book looks behind headlines and uncontextualised comparisions to compare and contrast the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in European Union countries.

From Linda Hantrais (Loughborough University & London School of Economics and Political Science) and Marie-Thérèse Letablier (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) & Centre d’Economie de la Sorbonne), this book looks behind headlines and uncontextualised comparisions to compare and contrast the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in European Union countries.

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Cover of journal
This theme issue integrates the efforts of researchers working across archaeology, anthropology, genomics, palaeoecology, and evolutionary demography, combining original research alongside critical reviews, to provide a benchmark for the state-of-the-art in prehistoric demography and a statement of the future of this rapidly growing cross-disciplinary endeavour.

This theme issue integrates the efforts of researchers working across archaeology, anthropology, genomics, palaeoecology, and evolutionary demography, combining original research alongside critical reviews, to provide a benchmark for the state-of-the-art in prehistoric demography and a statement of the future of this rapidly growing cross-disciplinary endeavour.

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Exceptional Lifespans Book Cover
How long can humans live? This open access book documents, verifies and brings to life the advance of the frontier of human survival. It carefully validates data on supercentenarians, aged 110+, and semi-supercentenarians, aged 105-109, stored in the International Database on Longevity (IDL).

How long can humans live? This open access book was edited by Heiner Maier (Max Planck Institute for Demographic Rsearch) and Bernard Jeune and James W. Vaupel (University of Southern Denmark). It documents, verifies and brings to life the advance of the frontier of human survival. It carefully validates data on supercentenarians, aged 110+, and semi-supercentenarians, aged 105-109, stored in the International Database on Longevity (IDL).

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Wir haben das geschafft – und uns verändert Report Cover Page
The report ‘Wir haben das geschafft – und uns verändert’ discusses the consequences of the ‘long summer of migration’. It was published by the research initiative ‘Challenges of Migration, Integration and Exclusion’ (WiMi) by the Max Planck Society, which is comprised of six Max Planck Institutes.

The report ‘Wir haben das geschafft – und uns verändert’ discusses the consequences of the ‘long summer of migration’. They found that while the rapid intake of a large number of refugees was a challenge, it was largely overcome and was the catalyst for numerous changes.

Event Review
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Demography and the Coronavirus Pandemic: What have we learned so far and where do we go from here?
Event Review of the High-Level Expert Meeting
On 9 November 2020, Population Europe hosted a High-Level Expert Meeting to discuss what the demographic community has learned thus far about the COVID-19 pandemic and where they go from here. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, it will be important that demographers make a greater effort to communicate their research findings to influence policy measures addressing the impacts of the pandemic. Researchers also need to be more vocal in combating misinformation about the virus and conveying the non-health implications of this pandemic on society.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, it will be important that demographers make a greater effort to communicate their research findings to influence policy measures addressing the impacts of the pandemic. Researchers also need to be more vocal in combating misinformation about the virus and conveying the non-health implications of this pandemic on society.

 

News
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News: European Association for Population Studies Awards
Congratulations to the winners of the 2020 EAPS Awards from our network: Elizabeth Thomson (Stockholm University Demography Unit), Daniele Vignoli (University of Florence), Martin Kolk (Stockholm University Demography Unit), Trude Lappegård (University of Oslo) and Liili Abuladze (Tallinn University).

Congratulations to the winners of the 2020 EAPS Awards from our network: Elizabeth Thomson (Stockholm University Demography Unit), Daniele Vignoli (University of Florence), Martin Kolk (Stockholm University Demography Unit), Trude Lappegård (University of Oslo) and Liili Abuladze (Tallinn University).

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News: New Podcast 'Demography and Society in Focus'
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Demographie has launched a German-language podcast, 'Demography and Society in Focus' ('Demografie und Gesellschaft im Fokus').

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Demographie has launched a German-language podcast, 'Demography and Society in Focus' ('Demografie und Gesellschaft im Fokus').

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News: Two SUDA Teams Receive Research Grants
Two excellent teams of researchers at the Stockholm University Demography Unit (SUDA) have received significant grants from Vetenskapsrådet, the Swedish Research Council.

Two excellent teams of researchers at the Stockholm University Demography Unit (SUDA) have received significant grants from Vetenskapsrådet, the Swedish Research Council.

 

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News: 'Dear Pandemic' Shares COVID-19 Content From an All-Female Group of Researchers
Led by an all-female group of researchers across continents, Dear Pandemic is a new website where you can stay updated on factual information related to COVID-19.

Led by an all-female group of researchers across continents, Dear Pandemic is a new website where you can stay updated on factual information related to COVID-19.

 

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News: Centre for Population Change Wins Public Policy Impact Prize
The Centre for Population Change (CPC) has won the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Impact Prize for the Outstanding Public Policy Impact category.

The Centre for Population Change (CPC) has won the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Impact Prize for the Outstanding Public Policy Impact category.

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News: New Special Issue 'Family Change, Intergenerational Relations and Policy Responses'
Contemporary Social Science has released a themed issue on ‘Family change, intergenerational relations and policy implications’, guest edited by Linda Hantrais, Julia Brannen and Fran Bennett.

Contemporary Social Science has released a themed issue on ‘Family change, intergenerational relations and policy implications’, guest edited by Linda Hantrais, Julia Brannen and Fran Bennett.

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News: ERC Advanced Grants for Population Europe Researchers
Congratulations to Eva Beaujouan and Raya Muttarak (Wittgenstein Centre for Demography and Global Human Capital), Jennifer Dowd (Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science) and Alessia Melegaro (Dondena Centre for Research on Social Dynamics and Public Policy) for receiving ERC Consolidator Grants.

Congratulations to Eva Beaujouan and Raya Muttarak (Wittgenstein Centre for Demography and Global Human Capital), Jennifer Dowd (Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science) and Alessia Melegaro (Dondena Centre for Research on Social Dynamics and Public Policy) for receiving ERC Consolidator Grants.

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Comparative Panel File Harmonizing Comparative Lifecourse Data
The Comparative Panel File (CPF) is now online! It harmonises the world's largest and longest-running household panel surveys from seven countries. It is developed by Konrad Turek and Matthijs Kalmijn at the Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI-KNAW) and Thomas Leopold at the University of Cologne.

The Comparative Panel File (CPF) is now online! It harmonises the world's largest and longest-running household panel surveys from seven countries. It is developed by Konrad Turek and Matthijs Kalmijn at the Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI-KNAW) and Thomas Leopold at the University of Cologne.

Policy Insights
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Five Facts Everybody Should Know Before Discussing Future Migration Trends
Our ability to predict migration patterns is limited. Mathias Czaika and Jakub Bijak of the Horizon 2020 project QuantMig tell us five facts everyone should know before discussing future migration trends.

<p>Our ability to predict migration patterns is limited. Mathias Czaika and Jakub Bijak of the Horizon 2020 project QuantMig tell us five facts everyone should know before discussing future migration trends.</p>

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Higher Risk of COVID-19-Death for Elderly People in Stockholm Who Live With a Person of Working Age
The risk of dying from COVID-19 is for individuals aged 70 and older in Stockholm County who live in the same household as a person of working age was 60 per cent higher compared with older people who live with other old individuals, find Maria Brandén and colleagues of the Stockholm University Demography Unit.

<p>The risk of dying from COVID-19 is for individuals aged 70 and older in Stockholm County who live in the same household as a person of working age was 60 per cent higher compared with older people who live with other old individuals, find Maria Brandén and colleagues (Stockholm University Demography Unit).</p>

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How Do School Closures Affect Student Learning? It’s Worse Than You Think
Per Engzell, Arun Frey & Mark Verhagen of the Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science, Oxford University find that during the first COVID-19 lockdown in the Netherlands, students learned less than during a normal year. These results highlight the costs of keeping students out of schools and of the difficulties in compensating for these costs.

<p>Per Engzell, Arun Frey & Mark Verhagen of the Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science, Oxford University find that during the first COVID-19 lockdown in the Netherlands, students learned less than during a normal year. These results highlight the costs of keeping students out of schools and of the difficulties in compensating for these costs.</p>

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Female-Breadwinner Families on the Breadline
A study by Kowalewska and Vitali (2020) suggests it is time for policies to recognise the economic fragility of female-breadwinner couples. The gendered division of paid and unpaid work within couples has transformed across industrialised countries in recent decades. In analysing this change, policymakers and academics have endorsed the ‘social investment’ agenda, promoting a shift from male-breadwinning to ‘dual-breadwinning’ among partners.

<p>A study by Helen Kowalewska (Oxford University) and Agnese Vitali (University of Trento) suggests it is time for policies to recognise the economic fragility of female-breadwinner couples. The gendered division of paid and unpaid work within couples has transformed across industrialised countries in recent decades. In analysing this change, policymakers and academics have endorsed the ‘social investment’ agenda, promoting a shift from male-breadwinning to ‘dual-breadwinning’ among partners.</p>

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Woman getting on train with baby
Commuting tends to vary over an individual’s life course: Looking specifically at women entering motherhood, they tend to reduce their commute when transitioning to parenthood. Almost one in three of the mothers surveyed reduced their commuting distance substantially after the birth of the first child, leading to significant wage cuts.

<p>Commuting tends to vary over an individual’s life course: Looking specifically at women entering motherhood, they tend to reduce their commute when transitioning to parenthood. Almost one in three of the mothers surveyed by Thomas Skora, Heiko Rüger & Nico Stawarz (German Federal Institute for Population Research (BiB)) reduced their commuting distance substantially after the birth of the first child, leading to significant wage cuts.</p>
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Pop Digest
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To What Extent Do Policies Affecting the Division of Paid and Unpaid Work Lead to Less Separation Among Couples?
Kathrin Morosow (University of Bath), Marika Jalovaara (University of Turku) and Juho Härkönen (European University Institute & Stockholm University) studied the impact of cash-for-care benefits on short- and long-term risks of parental separation in Finland.

Kathrin Morosow (University of Bath), Marika Jalovaara (University of Turku) and Juho Härkönen (European University Institute & Stockholm University) studied the impact of cash-for-care benefits on short- and long-term risks of parental separation in Finland.

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Less is More
In a study published in PLoS ONE, Lajos Balint, Katalin Fuzer, Xenia Gonda and Péter Döme assessed the contribution of changes in socio-demographic factors in the decrease of the suicide rate in Hungary. Their research primarily relies on two factors: an increase in the proportion of people with a high level of education (with lower risks for suicide) and of unmarried individuals (with higher risks for suicide).

Lajos Balint (Hungarian Demographic Research Institute & University of Pécs), Katalin Fuzer (University of Pécs), Xenia Gonda and Péter Döme (Semmelweis University & Nyiro Gyula National Institute of Psychiatry and Addictions) assessed the contribution of changes in socio-demographic factors in the decrease of the suicide rate in Hungary.

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Where is Everyone Going?
Nico Stawarz and Nikola Sander from Germany’s Federal Institute for Population Research (BiB) use data on migration flows between 401 counties for the period 1991 to 2017 to study the impact of migration on regional population change since German Reunification.

Nico Stawarz and Nikola Sander (German Federal Institute for Population Research, BiB) use data on migration flows between 401 counties for the period 1991 to 2017 to study the impact of migration on regional population change since German Reunification.

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When Does Digital Use Harm Child Mental Health and Socioemotional Well-Being?
A study by Melissa Bohnert and Pablo Gracia (Trinity College Dublin) asks whether engagement with digital media has been detrimental for the well-being of children, and whether the effects are the same for all children.

A study by Melissa Bohnert and Pablo Gracia (Trinity College Dublin) asks whether engagement with digital media has been detrimental for the well-being of children, and whether the effects are the same for all children. They find that digital engagement can have moderate negative effects on children’s mental health and socioemotional problems, but these effects were found to vary largely depending on the quantity and quality of these digital activities.

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Meeting Online and Future Family Outcomes
Using Pairfam data, Mirkka Danielsbacka (University of Turku), Antti O. Tanskanen (University of Turku) and Francesco Billari (Bocconi University) looked into whether meeting a partner online associated with different family-related outcomes than of those of who meet offline.

Using Pairfam data, Mirkka Danielsbacka (University of Turku), Antti O. Tanskanen (University of Turku) and Francesco Billari (Bocconi University) looked into whether meeting a partner online associated with different family-related outcomes than of those of who meet offline.

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Work-Life Balance in the Second Half of Life
Ariane Bertogg (University of Konstanz), Tiziana Nazio (WZB Berlin Social Science Center & University of Torino) and Susanne Strauß (University of Konstanz) use SHARE data to find that providing regular care to parents or parents-in-law is not associated with a higher likelihood of exiting the labour market.

Ariane Bertogg (University of Konstanz), Tiziana Nazio (WZB Berlin Social Science Center & University of Torino) and Susanne Strauß (University of Konstanz) use data from the Survey on Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) and find that providing regular care to parents or parents-in-law is not associated with a higher likelihood of exiting the labour market.

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Fertility in Nordic Countries During and After Economic Recessions
Comolli and colleagues investigated the potential influence of economic recessions on total fertility rate in Nordic countries. They looked at the fertility histories and childbearing risk of native-born women in these countries between the late 1980s to mid-2010s.

Comolli (University of Lausanne) and colleagues investigated the potential influence of economic recessions on total fertility rate in Nordic countries. They looked at the fertility histories and childbearing risk of native-born women in these countries between the late 1980s to mid-2010s.

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Elderly man picking up littter
The transition to retirement has become increasingly diverse: some retirees leave the workforce entirely, while others continue to work. Working during retirement may, however, limit the time and opportunities for unpaid productive activities, such as volunteering, providing informal care, or looking after grandchildren.

The transition to retirement has become increasingly diverse: some retirees leave the workforce entirely, while others continue to work. Olga Grünwald (Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI) and University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG)), Marleen Damman (Radboud University & NIDI), and Kène Henkens (NIDI, UMCG & University of Amsterdam) examined how different retirement processes shape engagement in unpaid productive activities.

Webinars
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Webinar 'The Aftermath of 2015 – Lessons Learnt From the So-Called Migration Crisis in Germany'
Five years after the so-called migration crisis of 2015, researchers evaluate its main impacts on governance: Have the legal and administrative provisions met the challenges? How can we improve to be better prepared for future immigration waves? Watch our webinar with researchers from the Research Initiative on Migration of the Max Planck Society: The Challenges of Migration, Integration and Exclusion.

Five years after the so-called migration crisis of 2015, researchers evaluate its main impacts on governance: Have the legal and administrative provisions met the challenges? How can we improve to be better prepared for future immigration waves? Watch our webinar with researchers from the Research Initiative on Migration of the Max Planck Society: The Challenges of Migration, Integration and Exclusion.

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Lost in Transition? Women in Rural and Underserved Communities
Panel debate with Alanna Armitage (UNFPA), Colin Scicluna (Cabinet of the Vice President of the European Commission for Democracy and Demography) and Leo van Wissen (NIDI and University of Groningen) about how to create more attractive living conditions and better and innovative job opportunities for women in rural communities.  

On 4 December, Alanna Armitage (UNFPA), Colin Scicluna (Cabinet of the Vice President of the European Commission for Democracy and Demography) & Leo van Wissen (NIDI and University of Groningen) discussed what policy measures could help provide more attractive living conditions and better and innovative job opportunities for women in rural communities and what support is needed for women to become a motor for economic growth and sustainable development in rural areas.

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Discussion Beyond COVID-19: Population Challenges Ahead
In honour of the German presidency of the Council of the European Union, State Sectretary Dr Markus Kerber (German Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community) and Prof. Dr Arnstein Aassve (Bocconi University) discussed what are the demographic parameters which support – or might prevent – individuals from being better prepared for the challenges of the pandemic.

On 10 December, in honour of the German presidency of the Council of the European Union, State Sectretary Dr Markus Kerber (German Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community) and Prof. Dr Arnstein Aassve (Bocconi University) discussed what are the demographic parameters which support – or might prevent – individuals from being better prepared for the challenges of the pandemic.