Paul H. Landis

Bio: Paul H. Landis is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: Population & Sociological imagination. The author has an hindex of 5, co-authored 14 publications receiving 101 citations.

The Epidemiologic Transition: A Theory of the Epidemiology of Population Change

Abstract: Although demography continues to be the most prominent discipline concerned with population dynamics, involvement of other disciplines is highly desirable. The case for a multidisciplinary approach to population theory has been aptly stated by Kurt Mayer: “Any meaningful interpretation of the cause and effects of population changes must … extend beyond formal statistical measurement of the components of change, i.e. fertility, mortality and migration, and draw on the theoretical framework of several other disciplines for assistance (Mayer 1962).” In noting that the “analysis of the causal determinants and consequences of population change forms the subject matter of population theory,” Mayer inferentially acknowledges the epidemiologic character of population phenomena, for as its etymology indicates, (epi, upon; demos, people; logos, study), epidemiology is the study of what “comes upon” groups of people. More specifically, epidemiology is concerned with the distribution of disease and death, and with their determinants and consequences in population groups. Inasmuch as patterns of health and disease are integral components of population change, epidemiology's reservoir of knowledge about these patterns and their determinants in population groups serves not only as a basis for prediction of population change but also as a source of hypotheses that can be further tested to correct, refine and build population theory. Furthermore, many epidemiologic techniques that have heretofore been limited to the examination of health and disease patterns can be profitably applied as well to the exploration of other mass phenomena, such as fertility control. A theory of epidemiologic transition, sensitive to the formulations of population theorists who have stressed the demographic, biologic, sociologic, economic and psychologic ramifications of transitional processes, was conceived by this author less than four years ago. Recognition of the limitations of demographic transition theory and of the need for comprehensive approaches to population dynamics stimulated the development of this theory (Van Nort and Karon 1955; Micklin 1968).

The Epidemiologic Transition: A Theory of the Epidemiology of Population Change

Abstract: Although d emography c ontinues t o b e t he most prominent discipline concerned with population dynamics, involvement of other disciplines is highly desirable The case for a multidisciplinary approach to population theory has been aptly stated by Kurt Mayer: “Any meaningful interpretation of the cause and effects of population changes must extend beyond formal statistical measurement of the components of change, ie fertility, mortality and migration, and draw on the theoretical framework of several other disciplines for assistance (Mayer 1962)” In noting that the “analysis of the causal determinants and consequences of population change forms the subject matter of population theory,” Mayer inferentially acknowledges the epidemiologic character of population phenomena, for as its etymology indicates, (epi, upon; demos, people; logos, study), epidemiology is the study of what “comes upon” groups of people More specifically, epidemiology is concerned with the distribution of disease and death, and with their determinants and consequences in population groups Inasmuch as patterns of health and disease are integral components of population change, epidemiology’s reservoir of knowledge about these patterns and their determinants in population groups serves not only as a basis for prediction of population change but also as a source of hypotheses that can be further tested to correct, refine and build population theory Furthermore, many epidemiologic techniques that have heretofore been limited to the examination of health and disease patterns can be profitably applied as well to the exploration of other mass phenomena, such as fertility control

Educational assortative mating across marriage markets: non-Hispanic whites in the United States.

Abstract: Whether local marriage market conditions shape marriage behavior is a central social demographic question. Most work on this subject, however, focuses on one type of market condition—sex ratios— and on a single outcome—marital timing or sorting. We examine the impact of local marriage markets’ educational composition on educational assortative mating and on how sorting varies with age. We estimate a discrete-time competing-risks model of educational sorting outcomes, using individual data from the NLSY and community descriptors aggregated from census microdata. Results show that residents of educationally less favorable marriage markets are more likely to marry down on education, and that (for women) their chance of doing so increases with age more than for residents of more favorable markets.

The epidemiologic transition theory revisited thirty years later.

Abstract: The Epidemiologic Transition Theory is based on the systematic application of epidemiologic inference to changing health mortality survival and fertility over time and place linked to their socioeconomic environmental lifestyle demographic health care and technological determinants and/or correlates in different societal settings. Surely profound epidemiological changes have been taking place in the world over the last several centuries albeit at a varying pace and take-off time in different populations. This essay revisits the original 1971 presentation of the Epidemiologic Transition Theory moving from a three-stage/three-model formulation to a five stage/five-model formulation. In particular the relative role of mortality and fertility experience in the transition dynamics is discussed under Proposition 1 while the stages of epidemiologic transition are described under Proposition 2. Moreover the different kinds of inequities are noted during the transition and are captured under Proposition 3. Transition models characterizing the dynamics timing of the transition take-off and subsequent changes in different country groups are discussed in Proposition 4. The paper concludes with a look at the possible health scenario in the fifth stage of transition and beyond.