Population Counts

Entries from April 2009

Monday, April 20. 2009

20th Century Generations Posted by Jane Delung at 15:20

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“20th Century Generations”, a Population Reference Bureau (www.prb.org) publication by Elwood Carlson melds a demographic concept “cohorts” with political and historical events in our nation’s history. Building on work by Ryder, Straus and Howell and Easterly, Carlson identifies “seven public generations” of the 20th century. These generations are defined by strong historical and political boundaries.

We are all familiar with the Baby Boom generation (born 1946-1964) and the Good Warriors who are also known by Tom Brokow’s The Greatest Generation (1909-1928). But who has heard of The Lucky Few (1928-1945), the smaller generation before the Baby Boomers who experienced the expansive economic times of the 50’s and 60’s but were able to avoid, in large parte, the three major wars that occurred during the 20th Century.

While we are aware of the life experiences of Generation X (1965-1982), the smaller cohort following the Baby Boomers, we know less about the New Boomers (1982-2001) because they are providing only a few hints about their life course. This group is almost as large as the original Baby Boomers and will be the largest generation in the 21st century.

However, the New Boomers have share common experiences with the first generation of the 20th Century, the New Worlders (1871-1889). About one in four people in this generation immigrated to the United States and the New Boomers can expect to add more immigrants during adulthood than the previous five generation. The New Boomers may also have a great deal in common with the Hard Timers (1890-1908) who fought in World War I and struggled through the Great Depression. Many of the New Boomers are entering the work force just as our nation experiences one of the most severe economic downturns in 50 years.

This bulletin contrasts the experience of each generation through childhood with a rapid decline in infant mortality, the rise of mass education, the changing role of family and women in the work force. It is an excellent summary of our changing nation viewed through the generations that lived it. Much can be learned from reading the bulletin which can be found at the PRB web site. (www.prb.org)

Monday, April 20. 2009

Mayor Bloomberg Gets It Posted by Jane Delung at 11:59

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Mayor Bloomberg Gets It

The mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, announced last week (New York Times -4-08-09 www.nyt.com) that he was opening an office to oversee the 2010 Census in New York. New York is currently the only city to have a special office dedicated to the Census. Chicago and Los Angles traditionally have had aggressive programs to increase the response rate but not a special office. Mayor Bloomberg is “on to the Census." The New York 2010 Census office has two functions... (1) to ensure that all addresses are identified so that the household will receive the 2010 Census form and (2) educate all residents (legal or not) about the importance of completing the Census when it arrives in the mail in March 2010.

In 2000 only 55% of city residents returned the census form by mail compared to 67% of the nation. Residents are missed because not all of the people in the household are reported or because the Census Bureau does not know that the household exits and does not follow-up when a census form is not returned. After 2000, the New York City Planning Department is credited with identifying 150,000 apartments or houses that were home to 350,000 people. These people would have been missed without the extraordinary efforts of the Planning Department.

The Mayor understands the political and fiscal stakes of the 2010 Census. Reapportionment at the national, state and local level after each census is one of the most radical redistribution of power that occurs. Every ten years the House of Representatives, every state legislature, county government and many municipalities have to redraw their political boundaries based on the findings of the Census. And this redistribution of power occurs peacefully... a lot of heated rhetoric but the redrawing of districts occurs.

And Mayor Bloomberg gets it. He is ensuring that New York City will probably increase its power within the federal delegation and in Albany. He is also ensuring that New York City will get its fair share of federal and state financial support. Current projections are that New York State may lose 2 or 3 seats in the national reapportionment but if New York City aggressively educates their citizens to complete the 2010 census form, the most of New York State's losses will be borne by upstate New York. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, for believing in the power of the census.

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