Handbook

The topic Population Dynamics concerns itself with the study of the size, distribution and structure of populations, the processes whereby these undergo changes and the relationships between such phenomena and other social, economic, cultural and ecological realms of human existence. The topic focusses on important aspects of demographic theory and methods and contemporary demographic issues associated with various other sectors mentioned above in both developed and developing countries. Basic demographic techniques are introduced only to assist in the analysis and understanding of the major processes and problems of population change and their interpretation. After discussing the general nature of the subject and the sources of population data, various theories of population change are introduced. This is followed by discussions of the three components of population change, namely fertility, mortality and migration and their theories. Basic discussions of population ageing, and labour force analysis and methods of population and labour force projections are included in the topic.  Attention to major population issues is distributed approximately equally between the more developed and less developed countries. A section of the topic is devoted to a discussion of population policies in Australia.