Ellen Percy Kraly

Racial and Ethnic Inequality in the United States, 1940 and 1950: The Impact of Geographic Location and Human Capital.

From the newly released 1940 and 1950 Census PUMS (Public Use Microdata Sample) files, this study analyzes male occupational stratification for 35 ethnic populations, defined by “race” and national origins (foreign birthplace or parental birthplace). While racial and Spanish origin minorities had average occupational statuses (scored by Duncans Socioeconomic Index) far below that of NWNP (Native White of Native Parentage) men, most European ethnics, especially second generation men, were equal to or only slightly below the majority population in 1940 and 1950. A detailed labor market classification of 266 geographic areas did not prove to be a powerful mediating variable in the process of ethnic occupational stratification. Higher education attainments of northern born black men did not help them escape from low status occupations.

Efforts to improve international migration statistics: a historical perspective.

During the past decade the international statistical community has made several efforts to develop standards for the definition, collection and publication of statistics on international migration. This article surveys the history of official initiatives to standardize international migration statistics by reviewing the recommendations of the ISI, International Labor Organization and the United Nations and reports a recently proposed agenda for moving toward comparability among national statistical systems.

Estimates of long-term immigration to the United States: Moving US statistics toward United Nations concepts

US immigration data are revised to reflect the UN demographic concept of long-term immigration. Long-term immigration is measured by the number of new immigrants (permanent resident aliens) arriving in the year, temporary migrant arrivals (nonimmigrants) who subsequently adjust to permanent resident status, arrivals of asylees and refugees, and nonimmigrants who arrive during the year and stay for more than twelve months before departing. The estimates of long-term immigration for 1983 are compared to official INS statistics on alien immigration. Significant differences emerge according to country of origin, age, and state of intended residence. A method of producing current estimates of long-term immigration is illustrated.

Long-term immigration to the United States: new approaches to measurement.

The United Nations has recommended the measurement of types of international migration using demographic criteria, including length of stay and purpose of travel. Information systems at the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) have the potential to provide a basis for documenting these demographic characteristics, in particular, length of stay of temporary migrants to the United States. This article analyzes these characteristics of selected categories of nonimmigrant aliens. The results of the analysis are used to produce series of estimates of alien immigration that conform more closely to the U.N. recommended definitions and better represent demographic concepts of long-term immigration. A strategy for measuring emigration of aliens from the United States using INS information systems is also described.

Impact of New York prescription drug monitoring program, I-STOP, on statewide overdose morbidity

BACKGROUND Prescription Drug Monitoring programs (PDMPs) are intended to reduce opioid prescribing and aberrant drug-related behavior thereby reducing morbidity and mortality due to prescription opioid overdose. Expansion of the New York (NY) States PDMP in 2013 included the institution of the I-STOP law that mandated clinicians to consult the statewide PDMP database to review the patients prescription history prior to prescribing opioids. METHODS Trends in prescription opioid distribution, prescribing, and prescription opioid and heroin overdose morbidity in NY were analyzed using time series. A Chow test was used to test the difference in trends before and after the implementation of I-STOP. RESULTS The results indicated that: 1) the number of opioid prescriptions appears to be declining following the implementation of the I-STOP, 2) however, supply chain data shows that the total quantity of opioids in the supply chain increased, 3) statewide trends in inpatient and emergency department visits for prescription opioid overdose increased from 2010 to the third quarter of 2013 where the slope leveled off following I-STOP, but this change in slope was not significant, 4) visits for heroin overdose started escalating in 2010 and continued to increase through the second quarter of 2016. The overall significance of these findings show a small impact of PDMPs on prescription opioid overdose morbidity in NY in the context of the increasing national trend during this time period. CONCLUSIONS Prescription opioid morbidity leveled off following the implementation of a mandated PDMP although morbidity attributable to heroin overdose continued to rise.

Immigration and environment: A framework for establishing a possible relationship

This paper considers conceptual, analytic and policy issues concerning US population, immigration and environment. The policy question guiding the analysis is whether the environmental impact of immigration is proportional to its numbers, i.e., additions to the population, or does immigration have a disproportionate effect on the environment, i.e., above or below what would be expected on additional numbers alone? If the effect is proportional, then policy issues concerning the environmental impact of immigration become centered on population policy and programs, and the relative benefit of manipulating immigration as a component of population growth to achieve national environmental (or other) goals. If, however, immigration has a disproportionate effect, thus an effect on the environment beyond the contribution to population growth, then US immigration policy and its administration have unique environmental implications which may be appropriately addressed through immigration policy reform. The IPAT model is presented as a general framework for establishing the proportionality of the environmental effects of US immigration. Given the demands of theory and limitations of data, the framework is decidedly ‘ideal’ and is offered as a long range proposal for policy relevant research on US population, immigration and environment. In order to move to act on the proposed research agenda, however, several important analytic components of national population and environmental research must be strengthened. First, more accurate and comprehensive measurement of the components of US population growth is critical. Second, analysis of population, immigration and environmental processes must occur over time and across regions and local communities in the US. Third, a process of interpreting research results which is both inter- and multi-disciplinary, and is inclusive of national, regional and local concerns must be organized to wisely interpret findings within the context of national goals and traditions.

Concepts of Refugee and Forced Migration: Considerations for Demographic Analysis

Scholarly attention to refugee and forced migration, including demography, has mirrored the policy attention from individual governments and various international organizations struggling with the issues surrounding persons forced to migrate. This chapter attempts a narrative review of scholarly and policy developments relative to the concept and definition of refugee, forced migration and migrant. We give focus to the interaction among international convention, policy and social science and the implications for demographic research and analysis. The close relationship among practice, theory and data collection has a long history and continues. Changes in policy concern and in analytical apparatus have mutually influenced one another affecting both scholarly output and policy outcomes. The historical and legal origins of the concept and category of refugee and the implications for refugee studies are reviewed. The emergence of forced migration studies is described. Analysis of the implications of both policy analysis and theory for empirical research is presented followed by a discussion of operational definitions and measurement. Diversity in causes of migration is considered across these themes. The chapter concludes with reflections for demography and opportunities for analytic innovation.

Introduction: Advancing the Demography of Forced Migration and Refugees

Refugee and other forced migrations have increased in scale, complexity and diversity in recent decades. The United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR 2017) estimates that in 2016 there were a total of 65.6 million displaced persons worldwide, of whom 22.5 million were refugees recognized by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 40.3 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) within countries, around 3 million asylum seekers with their cases pending and another almost 10 million stateless people. In addition, it has been estimated that in 2014 approximately 19 million people in 100 countries were displaced by disasters, 184 million over the 7 years prior to 2014, most triggered by climate and weather related events such as floods, storms and wildfires (Yonetani 2015). These large numbers of people constitute an important, but understudied, element of global population dynamics. Moreover, there is no evidence that the scale and severity of forced migration is being reduced.

Comparative Demographic Analysis of Forced and Refugee Migrations: An Illustrative Note

The world has experienced large movements, both voluntary and forced, within and outside the continents. Forced migrations originating from some of the countries in Africa and Asia have contributed significantly to the global scale and complexity of international population movements. This chapter illustrates comparative demographic analyses in relationship to the levels and patterns of forced migration in Africa within the context of social demographic perspectives and data sources on migration. Critical consideration is given to the implications for the priorities for demographic research and training on forced and refugees migrations, to the systematic generation and use of data on all stages of the forced migration, and to the importance of dialogue between demographers and forced migration scholars.

Behind and Beyond Disaggregation by Sex: Forced Migration, Gender and the Place of Demography

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reports the proportion of females among the 2015 global population of persons of concern as 49% of 63.9 million. Deviations from this overall proportion, in particular places and spaces, and at different times in processes of forced migration, provide the insight into the role of gender in forced migration and its demography. Issues of vulnerability, less often resilience, however, flow from these metrics. This paper engages the ways in which gender informs the understandings of the demography of forced migration. Cultural values and social norms concerning gender are significant determinants of relative risk and exposure in complex humanitarian emergencies and environmental crisis which result in human flight, displacement and the search for safe haven. Methodologies consistent with the mobilities paradigm offer particular insight and strategies in informing a gendered demography of forced migration. Failure to consider gender in the demography of forced migration weakens the relevance of demographic analysis for prevention of and response to complex humanitarian crises.