Demography In Transition: Emerging Trends in Population Studies

There has been a movement in demographic research towards focusing on understanding population processes for more heterogeneous, rather than homogenous, populations. This movement has resulted in an increase in research concentrating on outcomes dependent on gender, race, and ethnicity. Changes in population structures within the United States have resulted in another notable disciplinary focus. Aging populations, altering family structures, and a rise in Asian and Latino immigration to the U.S. have all attributed to novel areas of research for demographers.

These timely issues, and their intersections, are central to the research explored in the chapters contained in this volume. In their chapters, these demographers examine the manner in which race and ethnicity affect access to heath care; the consequences and concerns associated with an aging population; the factors affecting Asian migration patterns; and the demographic implications of changing family structures. These chapters provide a glimpse into the current insights provided by demographic research, as well as directions for its future.