Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

What population studies can do for business

  • Published:
Journal of the Australian Population Association Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Demographers have a fundamental role to play in planning for the future. They possess a wide range of skills concerning the number, diversity and spatial distribution of the population, which are of value to business concerns. The role of demographers in analysis of census data is of special value. This paper discusses the specific skills acquired by demographers and provides examples of how these skills can be very useful and important in planning in both the private and public sectors. Finally the future of demographic training in Australia is considered by contrasting the APA membership with that of the PAA and considering the need for developing more teaching in demography at Australian tertiary institutions. The role of the APA in improving the status of demography as an important tool for corporate planning for the future is also emphasized.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Bibliography

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics. 1990.Household Expenditure Survey, Australia—Household Characteristics. ABS Cat. No. 6531.0. Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bell, M. (ed). Forthcoming. Population projections. Special Issue of theJournal of the Australian Population Association.

  • Borrie, W.D. 1990. Seeing round corners. Opening address presented to Australian Population Association, Melbourne.

  • Chew, K.S.Y. 1990. The demographic erosion of political support for public education: a suburban case study. Paper presented to Population Association of America, Toronto.

  • Christiansen, N. 1987. Four demographic segments of importance to financial services providers. Pp. 1–3 inMarketing to the New Demographics. Selected Presentations from a One-Day Seminar for Life Insurance Executives held December 2, 1986, New York City. Washington: American Council of Life Insurance.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, W.A.V. 1987. Demographic change, attendance area adjustment and school system impacts.Population Research and Policy Review 6:199–222.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cook, M.J. 1990. Life table methods in the valuation of life. Paper presented to Australian Population Association, Melbourne.

  • Exter, T. 1988. Marketing health care products: the contact lens market. Paper presented to Population Association of America, New Orleans, Louisiana.

  • Farnsworth Riche, M. (ed). 1989.The Best 100 Sources for Marketing Information. Who’s Who From American Demographers. Ithaca, New York: American Demographics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fishlow, H.R. 1989. Case studies in applied demography, development of an undergraduate demographic potential projection model for the University of California 1980 to 1984. Paper presented to Population Association of America, Baltimore, Maryland.

  • Forbes, J. 1989. Migration monitoring and strategic planning. In P. Congdon and P. Batey (eds)Advances in Regional Demography: Information, Forecasts, Models. London: Belhaven Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Francese, P. 1987. The baby boom: myths and realities. Pp. 9–13 inMarketing to the New Demographics. Selected Presentations from a One-Day Seminar for Life Insurance Executives held December 2, 1986, New York City. Washington: American Council of Life Insurance.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frohardt-Lane, K.A. 1989. Communicating demographic results to corporate decision makers: a case study of chart standardization at General Motors. Paper presented to Population Association of America, Baltimore, Maryland.

  • Greenwald, M. 1988. The demographic engine behind long term care insurance. Paper presented to Population Association of America, New Orleans, Louisiana.

  • Guest, P. 1990. Demographic trends in Southeast Asia and market demand: implications for Australian trade. Paper presented to Australian Population Association, Melbourne University, 19th-21st November.

  • Haub, C. 1987. Understanding population projections.Population Bulletin 42.4.

  • Haynie, S.P. 1987. The use of demographics to predict response to direct marketing campaigns—a discriminant analysis. Paper presented to Population Association of America, Chicago, Illinois.

  • Huigen, P.P.P., A.H.H. Kempers-Warmerdam, C.R. Volkers. 1986. Demographic changes and service provision in rural areas in the Netherlands.Espace Population Societes 111:55–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hugo, G. 1986.Australia’s Changing Populatoin: Trends and Implications. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hugo, G., C. Faulkner and M. Young. 1984. A demographic profile of the academic staff of Flinders University, Unpublished Report, Discipline of Geography, School of Social Sciences, Flinders University of South Australia.

  • Ketkar K. and S. L. Ketkar. 1987. Population dynamics and consumer demand.Applied Economics 19:1483–1495.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laulajainen, R. 1987. Chain store behavior in national space. Paper submitted toThe Professional Geographer.

  • Lawton, R. 1988. Population and planning: the case of the UK, Unpublished paper, University of Technology, Loughborough.

  • Letscher, M. 1987. Marketing to the changing consumer. Pp. 14–20 inMarketing to the New Demographics. Selected Presentations from a One-Day Seminar for Life Insurance Executives held December 2, 1986, New York City. Washington: American Council of Life Insurance.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lloyd, M. 1989. New Zealand population research and its policy relevance: an assessment of the role of sociology.New Zealand Population Review 15.11:3–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lopez, R.P. 1987. Finding new niches: the Hispanic/Asian markets. Pp. 21–26 inMarketing to the New Demographics. Selected Presentations from a One-Day Seminar for Life Insurance Executives held December 2, 1986, New York City. Washington: American Council of Life Insurance.

    Google Scholar 

  • McDonald, S.C. 1984. Uses and limitations of demographic analysis in a communications business. Paper presented to the Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America, Minneapolis, Minnesota, May 3.

  • Manning, J.P. and S.P. Haynie. 1988. The use of demographics to predict attitudes and product usage of utility customers—an application of discriminant analysis. Paper presented to Population Association of America, New Orleans, Louisiana.

  • Martin, G. and V. Faria. 1988. Impacts of social research on policy formulation: lessons from the Brazilian experience in the population field.Journal of Developing Areas 23:43–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Merrick, T.W. 1988. Teaching applied demography. Population Reference Bureau. Mimeo.

  • Merrick, T.W. and S.J. Tordella. 1988. Demographics: people and markets.Population Bulletin 43.1, February.

  • Morrison, P.A. 1971.Demographic Information for Cities: A Manual for Estimating and Projecting Local Population Characteristics. Santa Monica: The Rand Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morrison, P.A. 1980. How demographers can help legislators.Policy Analysis 6.1:86–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morrison, P.A. 1988a.Applied Demography: Its Current Scope and Future Direction in the United States. Paper of the Rand Corporation, October P-7496. Santa Monica: The Rand Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morrison, P.A. 1988b.What Tomorrow’s Demographers Will be Called Upon to Do. Paper of the Rand Corporation, July, P-7469. Santa Monica: The Rand Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morrison, P.A. 1989. Quantifying legal standards in voting rights cases. Paper presented to Population Association of America, Baltimore, Maryland, 29th March-lst April.

  • Petersen, W. 1988. What will demography be in 1996.Canadian Studies in Population 15.1:17–23. Pol, L. 1986. Demography goes to Business School.American Demographics, August.

  • Pol, L. and Ambrose. 1986. How a demographic dimension can improve the quality of small business marketing research. Paper presented to Population Association of America, San Francisco, February.

  • Rives, B. 1989. Strategic financial planning for hospitals: demographic considerations. Paper presented to Population Association of America, Baltimore, Maryland.

  • Rogers, A. 1980. Introduction to multistate mathematical demography.Environment and Planning A 12.5:489–498.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Russell, C. 1984. The business of demographics.Population Bulletin 39.3.

  • Ruzicka, L.T. 1973. The length of working life of Australian males 1933–1966.Economic Record 49.126:280–289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ruzicka, L.T. 1986.The Length of Working Life of Australian Males—1933–1981. Bureau of Labour Market Research Monography Series No. 15. Canberra: AGPS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Santow, G. and M. Bracher. 1983.A Demographic Profde of the Australian National University. Canberra: The Australian National University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz, J. 1989. The Census means business.American Demographics, July: 18–22.

  • Slack, J.A. 1987. Geographic segmentation within the convenience store industry. Paper presented to American Geographers Annual Meeting, Portland, Oregon.

  • Spar, E.J. 1984. The role of demography in sales and marketing decision making. Paper presented to Population Association of America, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

  • Stone, L.O. 1980. Demographic perspective on challenges of the 80s.Transactions of the Royal Society of Canada, Series 4.18.

  • Swanson, D.A. and B. Klopfenstein. 1987. Projecting household VCR penetration: A demographic approach. Paper presented to Population Association of America, Chicago, Illinois.

  • Terry, G.B. and S.K. Hart. 1986. The role of demographic data in the operation of public policy: a case study of the job training partnership act.Population Research and Policy Review 5:147–162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, R.K. 1988. How demographics are creating a dual health care market. Paper presented to Population Association of America, New Orleans, Louisiana.

  • Townsend, H. 1988.The Baby Boomers: Growing Up in Australia in the 40s, 50s and 60s, Brookvale: Simon and Schuster.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vesterby, M. and R.E. Heimlich. 1989. Land use and demographic change: results from fast growth countries. Paper presented to Population Association of America, Baltimore, Maryland.

  • Wardwell, J.M. 1986.A Demographic Study of the School District by Attendance Areas, Montana: Great Falls Public Schools.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weinstein, A. 1987.Market Segmentation. Chicago: Probus Publishing Co.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wojtkiewicz, R.A. 1985. Demography and personnel/human resource management. Paper presented to Population Association of America, Boston, 29th March.

  • Worrall, L. 1989. Urban demographic information systems. In P. Congdon and P. Batey (eds)Advances in Regional Demography: Information, Forecasts, Models. London: Belhaven Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zultowski, W.H. 1987. Demographics and life insurance marketing in the 1990s. Pp. 4–8 inMarketing to the New Demographics. Selected Presentations from a One-Day Seminar for Life Insurance Executives held December 2, 1986, New York City. Washington: American Council of Life Insurance.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Sciences, Hinders University of South Australia, GPO Box 2100, SA 5001, Adelaide, Australia

    Graeme Hugo

Authors
  1. Graeme Hugo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hugo, G. What population studies can do for business. Journal of Population Research 8, 1–22 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03029552

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03029552

Keywords

Search

Navigation