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C08.31 Population Geography

Session: Population geography in a post-census world

Chair(s): Etienne Piguet & Findlay Allan

Abstract:
The aim of the session is to discuss the consequences of the current move by numerous countries from traditional decennial censuses to population register and targeted surveys.
This move has many advantages but also potential drawbacks for population geographers: some variables that were collected for decades disappear as they are not recorded in population registers, some populations might be underrepresented, and surveys might be inadequate to study phenomenon such as ethnic, professional or cultural discrimination at a detailed geographical scale.
The session aim is twofold:
1/ Establish a state of the art of data collection trends and of the move toward post-census data collection systems.
2/ Exchange experiences about the positive and negative aspects of that move for population geographers
3/ Establish a “best-practice” list that would clarify the needs of population geographers and that would be useful for statistical offices worldwide.

Timeslots: 2

Session: Demographic divide

Chair(s): Paul Gans & Findlay Allan

Abstract:
Recent world population projections from the United Nations suggest globally lower levels of population growth. However, significant differences in patterns of population development are already evident at the level of major world regions and at national and sub-national levels.
On the national level two main demographic trends have been observed: On the one hand in most wealthy countries, total fertility rates are so low that population decline and ageing are more or less inevitable. On the other hand, in the global south, high fertility and lower life expectancies remain associated with demographic regimes enjoying high rates of natural increase.
These spatial disparities frame a complex demographic divide between more and less developed countries, but migration processes complicate these trends often accentuating differences between urban and rural areas. These demographic divides sometimes adds to existing economic, social and political circumstances of the areas concerned.
The session will be divided into two parts. The aim of the first part will be to analyse the effects of demographic shrinkage in villages, cities and regions (any one or all of these) of the wealthier nations in terms of vacant property, under-utilised infrastructure and potential economic decline. Papers will be welcome that  address questions such as:
What types of demographic shrinkage are evident?
Which strategies for coping with demographic decline are most appropriate at household, urban, regional and national levels?
To what extent has outmigration from some regions/nations resulted in unique demographic challenges?
To what extent has immigration to some regions/nations been an adequate response to counter natural population decline?
The second part of the session will investigate locations affected by demographic growth in the majority world. Papers are welcome on topics such as:
What is the nature of the demographic divide in relation to education and health provision in urban and rural locations?
Which strategies are most effective in planning at household, urban, regional and national level for urban growth?
What governance structures (from local to national level) are effective in enhancing the quality of life of populations in environments experiencing high levels of demographic growth and low levels of economic expansion?

Timeslots: 1

Session: Producing migration and ‘representing’ the migrant

Chair(s): Findlay Allan

Abstract:
The session seeks to question the view that migrants’ choices are the dominant force in shaping migration patterns and processes. Instead it is contended that migration patterns are ‘produced’ by a range of economic and political structuring influences such recruitment agencies, labour providers and migrant employers (who shape mobility through a range of social practices such as recruitment processes and employment regimes), as well as by immigration policies that selectively filter who is able to enter particular countries. As well as material effects, there is also evidence of social and cultural constructions of the characteristics of what may be considered the ‘good worker’ or the ‘ideal migrant’ which also shape mobility through representations and consequent selectivities and exclusions from the migration process.
The session will be interested in these issues in range to a range of different types of migrant. Papers would be welcome for example on  – expatriates, A8 or A2 migrants workers, skilled transnationals, student migrants etc and on the structural influences responsible for ‘producing’ the geographies of these types of mover.
Papers are invited from all researchers who have evidence of how structural influences (at micro, meso or macro scale) produce selective migration patterns or processes (either internal migration within countries or international migration).  Possible questions addressed by papers in these sessions might include:
How have labour providers, recruitment agencies or employers changed their practices over time and how have these affected the way that migration is produced?
How have the functions of recruitment agencies, gang masters or international agencies changed over time and how have these modified and why in a transnational environment do these structures remain important?
What images exist of the ideal migrant or the good worker and what are the consequences of such representations?
How are migrant subjectivities produced and reproduced?
How are migrants’ experiences impacted by the way that mobility is represented locally, regionally or nationally?
How has national immigration policy shaped the channeling of migration between countries and how have discourses on immigration policy in particular countries produced new migration geographies?

Timeslots: 2