Age-Period-Cohort Models

Develop a Deep Understanding of the Statistical Issues of APC AnalysisAge–Period–Cohort Models: Approaches and Analyses with Aggregate Data presents an introduction to the problems and strategies for modeling age, period, and cohort (APC) effects for aggregate-level data. These strategies include constrained estimation, the use of age and/or period and/or cohort characteristics, estimable functions, variance decomposition, and a new technique called the s-constraint approach. See How Common Methods Are Related to Each OtherAfter a general and wide-ranging introductory chapter, the book explains the identification problem from algebraic and geometric perspectives and discusses constrained regression. It then covers important strategies that provide information that does not directly depend on the constraints used to identify the APC model. The final chapter presents a specific empirical example showing that a combination of the approaches can make a compelling case for particular APC effects.Get Answers to Questions about the Relationships of Ages, Periods, and Cohorts to Important Substantive VariablesThis book incorporates several APC approaches into one resource, emphasizing both their geometry and algebra. This integrated presentation helps researchers effectively judge the strengths and weaknesses of the methods, which should lead to better future research and better interpretation of existing research.

"This is an excellent book on age–period–cohort (APC) models for the analysis of data from demography and related fields. … an excellent work with wonderful resources on APC models. … It will be very useful to research scholars … looking for several advanced APC approaches. The book effectively presents the strengths and weaknesses of various statistical methods of APC analysis, which should lead to advanced future research and better interpretation of existing research."—International Statistical Review, 2015

Robert M. O’Brien is a professor emeritus of sociology at the University of Oregon. He specializes in criminology and quantitative methods and has published extensively in both areas. In what is labeled semiretirement, he coedits Sociological Perspectives with James R. Elliott and Jean Stockard and works on research projects.