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Header Newsletter

Population Europe Newsletter - October 2024

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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Andreas Edel, Zwischen Pest und Feuer
This biography is the first to focus on John Graunt, the founder of demography and epidemiology, as a person who lived at a time of great social and scientific upheaval.

Epidemics, wars and disasters – these were challenges people in 17th-century England also faced. In 1662, John Graunt (1620-1674), a London textile merchant, wrote a study that is one of the pioneering works in the history of science. This biography is the first to focus on this important founder of demography and epidemiology as a person who lived at a time of great social and scientific upheaval.

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PopWorld_INED
Every 2 years, Population & Societies publishes an issue entitled ‘The Population of the World’, which presents an overview of the demographic situation worldwide based on estimates and projections from the United Nations.

Every 2 years, Population & Societies publishes an issue entitled ‘The Population of the World’, which presents an overview of the demographic situation worldwide based on estimates and projections from the United Nations.

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Vulner_book
This open-access book dissects the current narratives of ‘vulnerability’ in asylum laws and policies, by unpacking the meanings, productions, and performances, of ‘vulnerability’ in different contexts, from countries of first asylum in the Global South to Europe and Canada.

This open-access book dissects the current narratives of ‘vulnerability’ in asylum laws and policies, by unpacking the meanings, productions, and performances, of ‘vulnerability’ in different contexts, from countries of first asylum in the Global South to Europe and Canada. 

Event Review
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mapineq_seminar2
This event review summarises the presentations and panel discussions from the second seminar of the EU-funded project "Mapping Inequalities Through the Life Course" (Mapineq), held on 18 June from 15:00 to 16:00 CEST.

Read the event review and watch the meeting recording on YouTube to explore the latest trends on social mobility in Europe, delve into its root causes and enduring challenges, and discover effective policy interventions at both national and local levels.

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Pregnancy Ultrasound Image
This event review summarises the presentations and panel discussions from the international and interdisciplinary symposium "Medically Assisted Reproduction: Health, Social and Demographic Aspects", held from 16 to 18 September at Villa Vigoni, Italy.

This event review summarises the presentations and panel discussions from the international and interdisciplinary symposium "Medically Assisted Reproduction: Health, Social and Demographic Aspects", held from 16 to 18 September at Villa Vigoni, Italy.

News
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Grouo of older people discussing around a table
Constructive policy suggestions were shared by more than 130 engaged citizens in a workshop hosted by the FutuRes Policy Lab. We would like to thank all participants!

“We should never underestimate the power of demography”, said Arnstein Aassve, Head of Research at the EU-funded FutuRes Project, at a recent citizen workshop. We can only agree, except that we would like to add: "Never underestimate the knowledge of more than 130 engaged citizens from 20 European countries!". Our researchers went home with wheelbarrows full of policy suggestions to fight ageism.

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Older woman and young child look at mobile phone together
Dr. Bettina Hünteler of the Max-Planck-Institute for Demographic Research presented the audience with a new way of understanding social inequality: by looking at family compositions and how they differ during peoples' life

The Tuesday Dialogues are a series of public, online talks on demographic research and pressing societal issues which have taken place since 2020. Since 2024 they are being organized in collaboration with the Einstein Center Population Diversity in Berlin. 

Policy Insights
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Kampus_Pexels
Innovative digital solutions hold great promise for supporting people who take care of older family members at home. But the gap between what technology provides and caregivers’ actual needs remains wide. For real impact, digitalisation efforts must become user-centered and accessible, addressing the everyday challenges of informal care.

For real impact, digitalisation efforts must become user-centered and accessible, addressing the everyday challenges of informal care.

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nikita-vasilchenko_adobe
Education remains a key tool for social mobility, especially for lower-class students, and policies like scholarships and academic support programs are crucial. Yet, it’s unrealistic to think education alone can fix inequality.

Education remains a key tool for social mobility, especially for lower-class students, and policies like scholarships and academic support programs are crucial. Yet, it’s unrealistic to think education alone can fix inequality. 

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Two young people in a factory, being taught to work a specific tool
Which strategies can address Europe's skill shortage in the long term? Policymakers are discussing whether automation or migration could be effective. However, research shows that governments should be cautious about overly relying on either, as both these trends can be unpredictable and their effects short-lived. Instead, a resilient policy approach should focus on enhancing the attractiveness of labour markets.

How to deal with Europe's skill shortage? Research shows that governments should avoid relying on migration or automation to fix the labour market. Instead, the policy should aim to attract workers in a targeted way.

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Cottonbro_Pexels
Sustainability is no longer just about the environment—it’s about people. And the most pressing issues we face, such as climate change and resource management, are inextricably linked to population dynamics.

Sustainability is no longer just about the environment—it’s about people. And the most pressing issues we face, such as climate change and resource management, are inextricably linked to population dynamics.

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EU flag waved by people at demonstration in prague
Recent crises, from the Great Recession to the COVID-19 pandemic, have sparked a debate among policymakers, politicians, and the public – about the urgent need for crisis resilience. Strengthening the resilience of individuals and communities is expected to reduce the vulnerability of our societies.

Resilience is about adapting through renewal. A resilient system is one that can evolve, by learning to better cope with crises in the future. As our experts point out in this article,  governments can enhance societal resilience, through three key activities.

Pop Digest
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Kelly_Pexels
A new study finds: Non-nationals who live in German cities are exposed to more air pollution and have less access to green spaces than nationals. Income level does not seem to factor into this. But there is a third variable which correlates: anti-foreigner sentiment.

A new study finds: Non-nationals who live in German cities are exposed to more air pollution and have less access to green spaces than nationals. Income level does not seem to factor into this. But there is a third variable which correlates: anti-foreigner sentiment.

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Family_Pexels
The study by Sehar Ezdi, Elina Kilpi-Jakonen, Heta Pöyliö, and Jani Erola from the University of Turku examines the impact of family policies on childbearing in Finland, Germany, and the UK, revealing that their effectiveness varies depending on the national context.

The study by Sehar Ezdi, Elina Kilpi-Jakonen, Heta Pöyliö, and Jani Erola from the University of Turku examines the impact of family policies on childbearing in Finland, Germany, and the UK, revealing that their effectiveness varies depending on the national context.

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Laura Stanley
Valeria Ferraretto and Agnese Vitali (University of Trento) have examined how patterns of leaving home for the first time, entering the labour market, forming the first co-residential union, and having the first child have changed over time in Europe.

Valeria Ferraretto and Agnese Vitali (University of Trento) have examined how patterns of leaving home for the first time, entering the labour market, forming the first co-residential union, and having the first child have changed over time in Europe.

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RDNE Stock project
A new study by Miguel Requena and Mikołaj Stanek shows that young women in their twenties with a medium level of education, especially those with a migrant background, are more likely to undergo abortions.

A new study by Miguel Requena and Mikołaj Stanek shows that young women in their twenties with a medium level of education, especially those with a migrant background, are more likely to undergo abortions.