A Retrospective of the First Issues of Population Published In 1946: Foreword

Population celebrates its seventieth anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, we have chosen to republish four articles from 1946, one in each of our 2016 issues. Each one is accompanied by an introductory commentary that highlights the topicality, or obsolescence, of the research question covered and, from a twenty-first century perspective, looks at how the issues discussed have evolved over time (see Foreword in 1–2016).

The first issue featured an article by Alfred Sauvy entitled “Assessment of French immigration needs” (1–1946), with an introduction by François Héran. It was followed in the second issue by an article by Paul Vincent on “Population ageing, pensions and immigration” (2–1946), commented by Didier Blanchet, and in the third issue by an article by the historical demographer, Jean Meuvret, on “Subsistence crises and the demography of France under the Ancien Régime”(4–1946), analysed by Christine Théré and Isabelle Séguy.

The series is rounded off by an article by Jean Bourgeois on “Marriage, a seasonal custom. Contribution to a sociological study of nuptiality in France” (4–1946) commented by Arnaud Régnier-Loilier and Wilfried Rault.

All Population articles since 1946 are available in electronic format via the Population website (www.journal-population.com) which links to the Cairn and Persée portals (for the oldest issues), and to Jstor.