George C. Alter


Research Professor, Population Studies Center, University of Michigan.
Professor, Department of History, University of Michigan.
Associate Director, Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research, University of Michigan.
Director, Population Institute for Research and Training, Indiana University.

Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania

Dr. Alter's research interests lie in the history of the family, demography, and economic history. Recent work explores demographic responses to economic hardship in Europe and East Asia, and the effects of childhood experiences on health in old age.

Recent Publications

Journal Articles

Alter, George C., and Michel Oris. 2008. "Effects of Inheritance and Environment on the Heights of Brothers in Nineteenth-century Belgium." Human Nature, 19(1): 44-55. DOI:10.1007/s12110-008-9029-1. Licensed Access.

Oris, Michel, and George C. Alter. 2008. "Effets de fratrie et mobilité sociale intergénérationnelle dans la Belgique urbaine et rurale au xixe siècle." Annales de Démographie Historique, 15(1): 115-138.

Alter, George C., Martin Dribe, and Frans van Poppel. 2007. "Widowhood, Family Size, and Post-Reproductive Mortality: A Comparative Analysis of Three Populations in Nineteenth Century Europe." Demography, 44(4): 785-806. Licensed Access.

Oris, M., M. Neven, and Alter, George C. 2007. "When protoindustry collapsed fertility and the demographic regime in rural eastern Belgium during the industrial revolution." Historical Social Research-Historische Sozialforschung, 32(2): 137-159. Worldcat.

Alter, George C., and Myron Gutmann. 2005. "Belgian Historical Demography as Viewed from North America: Protoindustrialization, Fertility Decline, and the Use of Population Registers." Belgisch Tijdschrift voor Nieuwste Geschiedenis- Revue belge d'histoire contemporaine, 35: 523-546. Public Access.

Alter, George C., and Michel Oris. 2005. "Childhood Conditions, Migration, and Mortality: Migrants and Natives in Nineteenth-century Cities." Social Biology, 52(3-4): 178-191. Licensed Access.

Alter, George C., Muriel Neven, and Michel Oris. 2004. "Height, Wealth, and Longevity in 19th century East Belgium." Annales de Démographie Historique, No. 2: 19-37.

Alter, George C. 2004. "Height, Frailty, and the Standard of Living: Modeling the Effects of Diet and Disease on Declining Mortality and Increasing Height." Population Studies, 58(3): 265-279. DOI:10.1080/0032472042000272339. Licensed Access.

Chapters

Oris, Michel, Muriel Neven, and George C. Alter. 2008. "Individuals and communities facing economic stress: a comparison of two rural areas in nineteenth century Belgium." In Living standards in the past: new perspectives on well-being in Asia and Europe edited by Robert C. Allen, Tommy Bengtsson, and Martin Dribe. 373-402. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Alter, George C., Matteo Manfredini, and Paul Nystedt. 2004. "Gender Differences in Mortality." In Life Under Pressure: Mortality and Living Standards in Europe and Asia, 1700-1900 edited by T. Bengtsson, C. Campbell, J. Lee. 173-208. MIT University Press.

View additional select publications of George C. Alter


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Recent resources, events, news

New Publications

Bingenheimer & Geronimus, "Behavior & HIV"

Wildeman, "Imprisonment & Infant Mortality," PSC Research Report

Next Brown Bag

Tues, Dec 1
Arland Thornton & Barb Koremenos
Mobilizing for Human Rights
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