Comparative empirical evaluations of internal migration models in subnational population projections

While population forecasters place considerable emphasis on the selection of appropriate migration assumptions, surprisingly little attention has been given to the effects on projection outcomes of the way internal migration is handled within population projection models. This paper compares population projections for Australia's states and territories prepared using ten different internal migration models but with identical assumptions for fertility, mortality and international migration and with the internal migration model parameters held constant. It is shown that the choice of migration model generates large differences in total population, geographical distribution and age--sex composition. It is argued that model choice should be guided by balancing model reality with practical utility and model performance is examined against these criteria. Of the ten models evaluated the authors argue that the migration pool, biregional, and biregional with net constraints models offer a good compromise between conceptual rigour and practicality. If the projected origin-destination flows are required then one of the versions of the standard multiregional model with reduced data inputs is preferred. The large variation in projection outputs points to the need for a better understanding of the spatio-temporal structure of migration in Australia

New Zealanders on the population geography of the Western Island

Article first published online: 28 JUN 2008New Zealand origin academics have played a key role in the academic study of Australia's population in the post-war period. The paper argues that New Zealanders have contributed not only to the furthering of knowledge of the processes of change in the Australian population but have been important in the teaching of population geography in Australian universities, made inputs into policy relating to population and been influential in the development of the Australian Population Association. Major contributions have been made by New Zealanders not only in the traditionally strong areas of population geography such as internal and international migration but also in the areas of fertility, mortality and ageing.Graeme Hug

Rhabdomyolysis induced by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi bacteraemia

Rhabdomyolysis has been reported infrequently with salmonella infection. Since 1964, there have been at least 22 reports associated with gastroenteritis or bacteraemia. Twenty cases have been associated with non-typhoidal strains of Salmonella , with single reports of Salmonella enterica serovars Paratyphi and Typhi. A second case of typhoid fever associated with rhabdomyolysis was recently diagnosed in Ann Arbor, USA in a traveller returning from an endemic area. Prompt diagnosis and treatment resulted in a good outcome. Salmonella infection should be considered by clinicians as a possibility in the differential diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/74180/1/j.1198-743X.2004.00816.x.pd

The demographics of the school-age population

COPYRIGHT 2001 Australian Council for Educational ResearchExamines recent trends in population growth in Australia from the perspective of their effects on the school-age population. Projected trends indicate that this population will at most be stable and probably will decline. Notes how the composition of this population is changing, with increasing levels of diversity and inequality.Graeme J. Hug