European Populations: Unity in Diversity was the general theme of the 1999 European Population Conference, which convened in The Hague (The Netherlands) from 30 August to 3 September on behalf of the European Association for Population Studies (EAPS), The International Union for the Scientific Study of Population, (IUSSP), The Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI), Statistics Netherlands (SN), and The Netherlands Demographic Society (NVD). On the threshold of the third millennium, Europe is facing major and challenging demographic issues that, to a large extent, will shape its future. These challenges formed the basis for selecting special underlying themes for the plenary sessions at the conference. Four outstanding population experts were invited to present their views. Written versions of their presentations form the contents of this book. Dirk van de Kaa (The Netherlands) describes Europe and its population. Henri Leridon (France) addresses the question How do Europeans plan their families?'. Giuseppe Gesano (Italy) considers the relationship between demographic trends and the labour market, and Marek OkA3lski (Poland) writes about Europe's recent international migration history.

European Populations: Unity in Diversity was the general theme of the 1999 European Population Conference, which convened in The Hague (The Netherlands) from 30 August to 3 September on behalf of the European Association for Population Studies (EAPS), The International Union for the Scientific Study of Population, (IUSSP), The Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI), Statistics Netherlands (SN), and The Netherlands Demographic Society (NVD). On the threshold of the third millennium, Europe is facing major and challenging demographic issues that, to a large extent, will shape its future. These challenges formed the basis for selecting special underlying themes for the plenary sessions at the conference. Four outstanding population experts were invited to present their views. Written versions of their presentations form the contents of this book. Dirk van de Kaa (The Netherlands) describes Europe and its population. Henri Leridon (France) addresses the question How do Europeans plan their families?'. Giuseppe Gesano (Italy) considers the relationship between demographic trends and the labour market, and Marek Okolski (Poland) writes about Europe's recent international migration history."

Since 1972 there has been a close contact through their publications between the Netherlands Interuniversity Demographic Institute at The Hague and the Population and Family Study Centre at Brussels. This co-operation has resulted in the joint publication of the journal Bevolking en Gezin (Population and Family) in the Dutch language. However, there has been a need for wider circulation of the Dutch language studies and research in the field of population and the family. In particular it was thought necessary to make possible an exchange of ideas and findings with popUlation and family scientists abroad. The volume Population and Family in the Low Countries intends to facilitate this international discussion by at least partially lifting the language barrier curtain. Some of the articles and documents included were originally published in the Dutch language, others were written especially for this volume. Population and family covers a very wide field and so do the chapters presented. In addition to demographic studies, articles are presented on population and family sociology and social biology. The editors hope that this second volume of Population and Family in the Low Countries reader, the sixth in their yearly publication series, will serve its purpose. The editors v Contents PREFACE V CONTRIBUTORS IX 1. J. GODEFROY A graphic representation of the process of population renewal - a demographic teaching aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Since 1972 there has been a close contact through their pUblications between the Netherlands Interuniversity Demographic Institute at The Hague and the Population and Family Study Centre at Brussels. This co-operation has resulted in the joint pUblication of the journal BevoLking en Gezin (Population and Family) in the Dutch language. However, there has been a need for wider circulation of the Dutch language studies and research in the field of population and the family. In particular it was thought necessary to make possible an exchange of ideas and findings with population and family scientists abroad. The volume 'Population and family in the Low Countries' intends to facilitate this international discussion by at least partially lifting the language barrier curtain. Some of the articles and documents included were originally published in the Dutch language, others were written especially for this volume. Population and family covers a very wide field and so do the chapters presented. In addition to demographic studies, articles are presented on population and family sociology and social biology. The editors hope that this reader, the first in their yearly publication series, will serve its purpose.