Vologda Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences
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Demographic Studies in VolRC RAS: Formation of the Scientific School

11.05.2021 Scientific Research

The main stages of the formation of the demographic studies school in the Vologda Research Center of RAS are presented in the article written by VolRC RAS director, Doctor of Sciences (Economics) Alexandra A. Shabunova and deputy director, heal of department, Candidate of Ol’ga N. Kalachikova. The authors described the development of the system of thematic areas conducted by employees of the Vologda Research Center of RAS for the past 30 years.

The relevance of sociodemographic topics is related to the necessity to respond to demographic challenges of social development, such as depopulation, caused by low birth rates and relatively high mortality, population ageing, and the prevalence of poor health. Monitoring of trends and identification of determinants lead to a comprehensive understanding of the nature and causes of demographic dynamics, adding new knowledge to the demographic science. These studies help to find tools for preserving people in the country and in the region, strengthening public health, and adapting to the transformation of the population’s age structure.

The thematic topic of works covers all demographic processes: birth rate, mortality, marriage and divorce; patterns of the public health development and conditions for the formation of a healthy generation are studied, monitoring and evaluation of the demographic policy effectiveness are carried out. Due to the significance of behavioral factors of demographic development, the research of the population’s demographic behavior is of special importance in the studies.

VolRC RAS develops and implements the system of matrimonial, reproductive, self-preservation, and migration behavior monitoring using sociological methods. Despite depopulation, studies on the health formation, first of all, among children are still relevant. At the current stage of Russia’s social development, social status of a family, the level of pedagogical competence and medical activity act as important health determinants together with external socio-economic conditions.

The promising areas for further research are development and deepening of current research, development of new methods of the demographic analysis, forecasting and modeling, interdisciplinary search for conceptual foundations that explain current trends in demographic development, and regular monitoring of the demographic development.

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