Volume 21 - Article 2 | Pages 23-64

An application of the variable-r method to subpopulation growth rates in a 19th century agricultural population


Date received:	30 Sep 2008
Date published:	07 Jul 2009
Word count:	4491
Keywords:	agricultural population, Scotland, subpopulation growth rates, variable-r method
DOI:	10.4054/DemRes.2009.21.2

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of the differential growth rates of the farming and non-farming segments of a rural Scottish community during the 19th and early 20th centuries using the variable-r method allowing for net migration. Using this method, I find that the farming population of Orkney, Scotland, showed less variability in their reproduction and growth rates than the non-farming population during a period of net population decline. I conclude by suggesting that the variable-r method can be used in general cases where the relative growth of subpopulations or subpopulation reproduction is of interest.