This fully revised and updated 2nd edition of this textbook offers a comprehensive overview of applied demography by presenting both basic concepts and methodological techniques. It allows students from the social and human sciences, demographers, consultants and anyone interested in applied demography to gain an understanding of a wide range of practical applications of demographic concepts, methods and techniques to real- world problems. Featured sidebars highlight relevant terms and concepts and case studies and exercises throughout the book offer first-hand exposure to demographic applications. Charts and graphs supplement the presentation of demographic concepts and a glossary provides an inventory of relevant terms.

The first section reviews basic components of applied demography as a context for understanding and addressing societal issues. It details the methods, techniques and data sources applied by demographers in a variety of areas. Coverage includes cohort analysis, data standardization, population estimation, and the use of geographic in- formation systems (GIS). The second section focuses on the substantive areas in which demography is currently applied. The topics covered include business demography, health demography, political demography, educational demography, and applications to urban and regional planning. The book illustrates the many ways in which demographers contribute to the formulation of public policy and the resolution of societal issues.

Richard K. Thomas, Ph.D., was trained as a medical sociologist and has been instrumental in the development of the field of health demography. He has taught courses in demography and applied demography and conducted numerous workshops on demographic data. He has authored more than 20 books on health/healthcare and demography and numerous articles for professional journals, newsletters, and magazines. He has conducted numerous workshops and made dozens of presentations on his research. He has received over two million dollars in NIH funding for demography-related research. He has served on the faculties of several universities and medical schools and is currently an affiliate faculty member at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.