70th anniversary of the journal "Population"

Published every quarter since its founding in 1946, the journal Population has always maintained the same objective: wide diffusion of the findings of demographic research.

In the continuing commemoration of this anniversary, the December 2016 issue of Population featured a 1946 article by Jean Meuvret, « Les crises de subsistances et la démographie de la France de l’Ancien Régime » [Subsistence crises and demography in Ancien Regime France], commented on by Christine Théré and Isabelle Séguy.

While the format—a combination of articles, research briefs and book reviews—has remained the same over the years, the methods and degree of technicity have evolved, along with the vocabulary.

The editorial article by editor-in-chief Alfred Sauvy that used to open each issue is of course no longer to be found. And though Population is still an INED publication, it has acquired total scientific independence over the years. 

Another significant change: at the time the journal was founded most authors were men and INED researchers, whereas now Population authors are male and female researchers from across the world. To accompany this development, it was decided in 2002 to publish the journal in both French and English, and since then Population has attained international status and renown.

Continuity in the scientific questions studied

From the journal’s first issues, priority was granted to studies of sources and methods. For example, the journal presented the 1946 French Census and all new studies and surveys being conducted. Considerable attention was also given to the three main areas of demographic interest: fertility, mortality and migration.
In the particular year in which it was launched, 1946, Population published assessments of the demographic impacts of the war. And during this period of reconstruction, economic concerns were prominent. Relations between demography and public policy both in France and abroad were also studied, becoming an essential focus and concern for the journal, whose perspective soon became fully international.

Republishing some of the journal’s first articles

To celebrate this 70th anniversary, Population will be republishing an article from its 1946 issues in each of its 2016 issues. These republications, each prefaced by a researcher specialized in the question, are an opportunity to relate the post-war perspective to current ones, consider whether the topic remains an issue or has ceased to be one, and in general to identify and underline past and present demographic concerns.

The first 2016 issue (2016-1) includes “Evaluation des besoins de l’immigration française” [Assessing French needs for immigration], Alfred Sauvy’s editorial article from the very first issue of Population, here prefaced by François Héran.
In the 2016-2 issue, Didier Blanchet sheds light on Paul Vincent’s article, “Le vieillissement de la population, les retraites et l’immigration” [Population ageing, retirement pensions and immigration].
In the 2016-3 issue, Christine Théré and Isabelle Séguy comment on Jean Meuvret’s “Les crises de subsistances et la démographie de la France d’Ancien Régime” [Subsistence crises and demography in Ancien Régime France].
And in the 2016-4 issue, Arnaud Régnier-Loilier and Wilfried Rault present Jean Bourgeois’ article, “Le marriage, coutume saisonnière” [Marriage: a seasonal custom].
These four articles are being republished seventy years later, but for readers interested in the journal’s scientific production in the intervening years, all articles published since 1946 can be accessed via the Population website.