Geografie 2015, 120, 26-49
Convergent and divergent trends in the European mortality: What is the position of Czechia?
Study of convergence and divergence tendencies could be taken almost as a separate field of study e.g. in demography or geography. In the article, a transparent method of quantification and visualization of convergence tendencies is introduced. Czechia was selected as a case country on which convergence tendencies can be studied and illustrated. The aim of the study is to find and apply a method of measuring and analyzing the convergence tendencies of this selected country to other countries. We focused on the process of mortality, for which necessary data are available in a unified structure for most of the European countries. The analysis was based on temporary life expectancy between ages 30 and 65 and life expectancy at the age of 65 years. It was proven that the “demographic nearest neighbor” in a mortality point of view for Czechia is Denmark. Such approach could be conveniently applied to any other studied process.
Keywords
demography, mortality, convergence, divergence, Europe, Czechia.
