Understanding subnational population and household change in Scotland, 1991-2009

• Main Author: McCarthy, John Paul
• Published: University of Leeds 2011
• Subjects: 304.609411
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.589001

The populations of sub national geographical areas in Scotland are subject to dramatic changes over time as fertility, mortality and migratory processes exert influences on the resident population. Changes in households and housing stock and their associated characteristics also contribute to the dynamics of changing sub national areas, but have been the focus of less attention than the components of population change. An in- depth understanding of the change processes is considered essential for effective planning and for the allocation of funding and services. This thesis has contributed to that understanding of population and household changes at subnational level, at which differences can be extreme. Rates of population change, the components of population change and households have been derived for Scottish Council Areas and Data Zones, the latter being recently created small area spatial units, and have been compared over time and summarised using a selection of classifications. The picture of change which has emerged is one of a mobile population redistributing and relocating in different ways, depending on time period (1991-2001, 2001-2009) age group (ten year period-cohorts), household types (occupancy classes) and housing classes (building type), influenced by factors such as life course position and changes to the housing stock as a result of development and re-development. Fluctuating rates of fertility, mortality and migration, increasing numbers of households occupying previously vacant properties, and increased occupation in housing types such as flats are witnessed at national and sub national levels. This thesis helps to understand the complicated mosaic of change in time and space which is witnessed in Scotland in the past twenty years when subnational areas are considered.