title: Patterns of life events derived from demographic rates and social norms.
abstract: "A simulation programme is described which constructs whole life courses from sequences of birth, entering into and dissolution of marriage, fertility and death.  Data are derived from probabilities of these events based on demographic rates and social rules (the SOCSIM programme); descriptions of lives are obtained from a post-processor.  The simulation is applied to two contrasting populations [the United States and Madagascar] to show the relative influence of vital rates and divorce rules on lives in a high mortality-high fertility and low mortality-low fertility population."
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Back
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Poss
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D000351:Africa, Eastern; D000352:Africa, Northern; D000569:Americas; D001519:Behavior; D003710:Demography; D019049:Developed Countries; D003906:Developing Countries; D004243:Divorce; D005190:Family; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005298:Fertility; D008270:Madagascar; D008393:Marriage; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009026:Mortality; D009656:North America; D011153:Population; D011154:Population Characteristics; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012106:Research; D012919:Social Behavior; D014481:United States; D014798:Vital Statistics
keywords: Africa; Africa South Of The Sahara; Americas; Behavior; Demographic Factors; Developed Countries; Developing Countries; Divorce; Eastern Africa; Family And Household; Family Life Cycle; Family Research; Fertility; French Speaking Africa; Madagascar; Marriage; Marriage Patterns; Models, Theoretical; Mortality; North America; Northern America; Nuptiality; Population; Population Dynamics; Population Statistics; Research Methodology; Social Behavior; United States; Vital Statistics