Pop digests

PopDigests

PopDigests are short, comprehensive summaries of research results with a link to the original publication (if accessible online). This allows population experts and other interested audiences to be able to easily access information to the latest research results. 

Older Latina woman on a couch

The Longevity Revolution is Going Strong

The human longevity revolution that started in 1840 shows no signs of ending soon, according to a Perspectives article published in PNAS. Understanding how much human lifespan can be extended is a major scientific goal, with critical implications across health, social, political, cultural, and economic domains. James Vaupel, Francisco Villavicencio and Marie-Pier Bergeron-Boucher summarize past trends in human longevity, upcoming prospects for life expectancy, and potential directions for future research.
Fertility Behaviours and Socio-Economic Status

Fertility Behaviours and Socio-Economic Status

Differences have widened during the global fertility transition
To better understand how the differences by socio-economic status developed during the transition from high to low rates of childbearing, Martin Dribe (Lund University) and Francesco Scalone (University of Bologna) analysed large-scale micro-level population data from the IPUMS archive.

To better understand how the differences by SES developed during the transition from high to low rates of childbearing, Martin Dribe (Lund University) and Francesco Scalone (University of Bologna) analysed large-scale micro-level population data from the IPUMS archive.

man signing contract

Spillover Effects of Fixed-Term Employment on the Subjective Well-Being of Partners

In a recent study, Sonja Scheuring (ERC project SECCOPA, University of Bamberg), Jonas Voßemer (ERC project HEALFAM, Mannheim Centre for European Social Research, MZES), Anna Baranowska-Rataj (ERC project HEALFAM, Umeå University) and Giulia Tattarini (Berlin Social Science Center, WZB) investigated how employment transitions into and out of fixed-term contracts affect the well-being of partners in Germany.

In a recent study, Sonja Scheuring (ERC project SECCOPA, University of Bamberg), Jonas Voßemer (ERC project HEALFAM, Mannheim Centre for European Social Research, MZES), Anna Baranowska-Rataj (ERC project HEALFAM, Umeå University) and Giulia Tattarini (Berlin Social Science Center, WZB) investigated how employment transitions into and out of fixed-term contracts affect the well-being of partners in Germany.

Should I Have a Kid?

Should I Have a Kid?

Fertility intentions among native and migrant women in Italy
Eleonora Mussino, Giuseppe Gabrielli, Livia Elisa Ortensi and Salvatore Strozza inquire directly into the short-term fertility intentions of migrants compared to natives in Italy. They also ask whether demographic and socio-economic factors play different roles in the two groups.

Eleonora Mussino (Stockholm University Demography Unit), Giuseppe Gabrielli (University of Naples Federico II), Livia Elisa Ortensi (University of Bologna) and Salvatore Strozza (University of Naples Federico II) inquire directly into the short-term fertility intentions of migrants compared to natives in Italy. They also ask whether demographic and socio-economic factors play different roles in the two groups.

Young and Old Woman

Risky Behaviours and Life Expectancy in Europe

The combined impact of smoking, obesity and alcohol on national life expectancy levels and trends
Fanny Janssen (Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute and University of Groningen), Sergi Trias-Llimós (London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Centre for Demographic Studies CED Barcelona) and Anton E. Kunst (University of Amsterdam) examined the individual and combined effects of smoking, obesity and alcohol not only on life expectancy levels but also on secular trends in life expectancy for 30 European countries.

Fanny Janssen (Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI) and University of Groningen), Sergi Trias-Llimós (London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and Centre for Demographic Studies CED Barcelona) and Anton E. Kunst (University of Amsterdam) examined the individual and combined effects of smoking, obesity and alcohol not only on life expectancy levels but also on secular trends in life expectancy for 30 European countries.

Pregnant woman with toddler

Parent-Child Relationships

Does being conceived with help of medically assisted reproduction play a role?
Alice Goisis and Maria Palma (Centre for Longitudinal Studies, Social Research Institute, UCL) looked at parent-child relationships of individuals around the age of 14 in the UK. Their results suggest that differences between the medically assisted reproduction and natural conception families in terms of closeness and frequency of quarrelling are small, and generally not statistically significant.

In a new study, Alice Goisis and Maria Palma (Centre for Longitudinal Studies, Social Research Institute, UCL) looked at parent-child relationships of individuals around the age of 14 in the UK by exploring data from the Millennium Cohort Study and analysed relationships with both mothers and fathers. Their results suggest that differences between the MAR and NC families in terms of closeness and frequency of quarrelling are small, and generally not statistically significant. However, they did find statistically significant differences on the specific indicator of closeness.

Less is More

Less is More

Factors contributing to the falling suicide rates in Hungary
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.

Elderly man picking up littter

Active in Retirement

Does post-retirement work constrain engagement in unpaid productive activities?
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.

Fertility in Nordic Countries During and After Economic Recessions

Fertility in Nordic Countries During and After Economic Recessions

The role of the state, crisis management and global perceptions in changes to total fertility rates
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.

To What Extent Do Policies Affecting the Division of Paid and Unpaid Work Lead to Less Separation Among Couples?

To What Extent Do Policies Affecting the Division of Paid and Unpaid Work Lead to Less Separation Among Couples?

The case of cash‐for‐care 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.

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.