title: Toward a unified approach to expounding demographic indices.
abstract: "Based on the notion that duration of occupancy of a demographic state is a random variable and defining demographic behaviours in terms of hazard rates or transitional intensities, this review paper shows that a framework of piecewise exponentials can provide a unified approach in expounding demographic indices."  The primary focus is on mortality.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Namboodiri
mesh_terms: D001519:Behavior; D003710:Demography; D015993:Life Tables; D008390:Markov Chains; D008722:Methods; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009026:Mortality; D011153:Population; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011336:Probability; D012106:Research; D012942:Social Sciences; D013223:Statistics as Topic
keywords: Behavior; Demographic Analysis; Demographic Factors; Demography; Life Table Method; Life Tables; Markov Chain; Methodological Studies; Models, Theoretical; Mortality; Population; Population Dynamics; Probability; Research Methodology; Social Sciences; Statistical Studies; Studies; World