Progress in Spatial Demography

Abstract

BACKGROUNDDemography is an inherently spatial science, yet the application of spatial data and methods to demographic research has tended to lag that of other disciplines. In recent years, there has been a surge in interest in adding a spatial perspective to demography. This sharp rise in interest has been driven in part by rapid advances in geospatial data, new technologies, and methods of analysis. OBJECTIVESWe offer a brief introduction to four of the advanced spatial analytic methods: spatial econometrics, geographically weighted regression, multilevel modeling, and spatial pattern analysis. We look at both the methods used and the insights that can be gained by applying a spatial perspective to demographic processes and outcomes. To help illustrate these substantive insights, we introduce six papers that are included in a Special Collection on Spatial Demography. We close with some predictions for the future, as we anticipate that spatial thinking and the use of geospatial data, technology, and analytical methods will change how many demographers address important demographic research questions.

Spatial attraction in migrants' settlement patterns in the city of Catania

“…Traditional indices of spatial segregation rely on data aggregated by areal unit, typically census tracts (Mazza and Punzo 2015); see Matthews and Parker (2013) for a review of new spatially derived techniques to analyze segregation. These indices generally suffer from the modifiable area unit problem and do not allow us to distinguish between economically induced segregation, typically due to spatial inhomogeneity in the cost of living and job availability within different parts of the city, from spatial attraction among individuals of the same ethnicity.…”

“…We applied point-pattern analysis to analyze the settlement patterns of foreign migrants in the city of Catania (Italy); this approach was motivated by Almquist and Butts (2012) and Matthews and Parker (2013). We used the inhomogeneous K-function to assess spatial attraction among migrants while adjusting for spatial inhomogeneity.…”

“…However, analysis at the scale of the tract is unable to take into account geographic proximity at the level of the individual household and social scientists have begun to recognize the importance of the individual level analysis (Kumar 2007;Almquist and Butts 2012;Matthews and Parker 2013;Kumar, White, and Singh 2013). Furthermore, alternative zoning or a different scale often yields different results.…”

Modelling Variation in Fertility Rates Using Geographically Weighted Regression

“…In addition, there is a general movement in social research to link micro and macro levels and people and places (Matthews and Parker 2013). There is growing evidence from a range of recent studies that even in developed countries with low fertility, significant differences in childbearing behaviours still persist across regions within countries (see Hank 2001 for Western Germany; Khawaja et al 2006 From a policy perspective, differences in sub-national fertility rates have important implications for the planning of local level provision of social services, education and health care (Khawaja et al 2006).…”

The geography of early childhood mortality in England and Wales, 1881–1911

“…Recently there has been a resurgence of interest in spatial demography (Voss 2007;Gutmann et al 2011;Matthews and Parker 2013;Howell, Porter, and Matthews 2016).…”