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An American population geographer and specialist on demographic trends in the former Soviet republics examines the results of the first post-Soviet census of Moldova (the poorest country of Europe), conducted in 2004 and released years later. He reviews major national- and regional-level changes in population size, urban/rural distribution, and ethnicity since the last Soviet-era census in 1989 and reconciles the two sets of data. A major factor complicating the analysis is the de facto secession in 1992 of an eastern region of the country, now known as the Pridnestrovskaya Moldavskaya Republic (PMR), which prompted a brief war and subsequent uneasy ceasefire later that year. However, a population enumeration conducted in the PMR, also in 2004 (and released later), facilitates the identification of overall demographic trends in the region, which may experience the involuntary return of jobless migrant workers from Russia and the EU due to the 2008/2009 global recession. Classification Numbers: J110, O180, R230.2 figures, 2 tables, 49 references. Key words: Moldova, Transnistria, Chisinau, emigration, urbanization, demographic trends.

A U.S. population geographer specializing in the former Soviet Union surveys the results of an October 2005 census conducted in a contested pseudo-state known as the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR). Data from the enumeration provide the first credible information about recent population characteristics, including nationality composition and migration from the war-torn republic. The data make it possible to ascertain the crude magnitudes of population losses in the republic's constituent rayons as well as changes resulting from deaths and expulsion of ethnic Armenians and/or Azerbaijanis. Changes documented since the last (1989) Soviet census in the region indicate that the current republic's population differs quite dramatically from that of the former Nagomo-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast of Azerbaijan, complicating efforts to broker a lasting peace agreement between the pseudo-state's two neighbors. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: J11, O18, R23. 1 figure, 1 table, 36 references. Key words: Nagomo-Karabakh, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Stepanakert, population census, migration, abandoned settlements, ethnic tension.

An American geographer and specialist on population change in the former Soviet republics presents a study of the first post-Soviet census of Armenia. The author reviews major national- and regional-level changes in population size, urban/rural distribution, and ethnic affinity, by focusing on disruptive effects of the 1988 earthquake on the last Soviet census enumeration (1989), which hinders temporal comparisons. Also included in his study is the largely economically based mass migration to other former Soviet republics (chiefly to Russia) and the United States; an internal territorial reorganization in 1995; and migration streams of Armenian displaced persons and refugees as well as emigration of Azeris as a consequence of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict noted in some detail. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: J11, O18, R23.3 figures, 2 tables, 60 references. Key words: Armenia, population change, emigration, urbanization, demographic trends, Nagorno-Karabakh, Spitak earthquake, Azerbaijan, Armenian-Azeri conflict, Yerevan.

An American geographer and specialist on urbanization and population change in the countries of the former USSR summarizes major results of the first post-Soviet census of Georgia, only recently released. After describing sources of census data and methodological issues warranting attention (e.g., exclusion of most of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and movements of internally displaced persons), he reviews significant national-and regional-level developments in population size, urban and rural distribution, and ethnic affiliation in the country. Classification Numbers: J11, O18,R23.3 figures, 3 tables, 34 references. Key words: population change, Georgia, urbanization, internally displaced persons, demographic trends, Abkhazia, South Ossetia.

An American geographer and noted specialist on urbanization and population dynamics in the countries of the former Soviet Union reviews the major results of the first post-Soviet census in Tajikistan, conducted in 2000 and only recently released to the public. The author examines salient influences on population change, at both the national and regional level, over the period since the last Soviet census (1989). Presented and discussed in the paper are internal population redistribution resulting from the Tajik civil war (1992-1997), continuing high rates of natural increase among ethnic Tajiks, substantial emigration of non-titular populations (especially Russians and Uzbeks), shifts in the country's ethnic balance, and de-urbanization. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: J11, O18, R23. 3 figures, 4 tables, 29 references. Key words: population change, Tajikistan, urbanization, emigration, demographic trends.

American specialist on urbanization and population dynamics in the countries of the former Soviet Union examines changes in Ukraine's population revealed by analysis of that country's first post-Soviet census (2001). Among the more salient developments examined in this second-largest post-Soviet republic are extremely high rates of natural population decrease among Ukrainians and Russians alike, a substantial exodus of ethnic Russians from Ukraine (and in some cases their ethnic re-identification as Ukrainians) with major implications for nationality distribution both at the national and regional levels, and interesting trends involving other minority nationalities such as (Crimean) Tatars, Armenians, and Jews.

An American specialist on urbanization and population dynamics in the countries of the former Soviet Union examines changes in Azerbaijan's population revealed by analysis of that country's first post-Soviet (1999) census and official 2002 population estimates. Particular attention is devoted to the ongoing conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the contested territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, in terms of its effects on total population size (mortality and refugee flows into and out of the country) and the internal distribution of population within the country (involuntary migration of internally displaced persons). Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: J11, O18, R23. 2 figures, 4 tables, 44 references.

The author, a U.S. geographer specializing in issues of population change and urbanization in the countries of the former USSR, extends an earlier study of the population of Belarus (Rowland, 2003) by focusing on trends of change in the nationality composition of that country's population revealed by the most recent (1999) census. More specifically, the paper analyzes trends and patterns of the nationality composition of the total, urban, and rural Belarusian population at both the national and regional levels for the period 1989-1999. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: J11, O18, R23.3 figures, 10 tables, 10 references.

An American geographer studying population change and urbanization in the former USSR focuses on trends revealed by comparison of the two most recent censuses conducted in Belarus. National and regional total, urban, and rural population change is analyzed for the period 1989-1999, with selected updating to 2001 and 2002. Patterns of fertility, mortality, natural increase, and migration also are addressed where relevant to an understanding of general population trends. Particular effort is devoted to detecting population movements resulting from the Chernobyl' nuclear accident in nearby northern Ukraine in 1986. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: J11, O18, R23.2 figures, 3 tables, 35 references, 2 appendices.

A specialist on population change and urbanization in the countries of the former USSR examines nationwide and regional total, urban, and rural population change in Kyrgyzstan for 1989-1999--the period between the last census of the former USSR and the first census of independent Kyrgyzstan--with selected updates to 2001. Of particular interest is the availability of oblast-level nationality data making possible the detailed investigation of changes in the regional and rural-urban populations of major nationality groups in Kyrgyzstan. A focus is on the decreasing sizes of Russian, Ukrainian, and German populations and population growth among ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbeks. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: O18, R12, R23.4 figures, 17 tables, 41 references.

An American geographer specializing in population change and urbanization in the countries of the former USSR examines nationwide and regional total, urban, and rural population change in Kazakhstan for 1989-1999, using data from the recently released 1999 census of Kazakhstan. Of particular interest is the analysis of nationality data in the census, available at a level of detail not matched since the last Soviet census in 1989. For the first time in more than a decade, a detailed investigation is possible of changes in the regional and rural-urban populations of major nationality groups in Kazakhstan during the 1990s. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: O18, R12, R23. 10 figures, 15 tables, 35 references.

An American geographer specializing in population change and urbanization in countries of the former USSR analyzes spatial patterns of urban population change in Ukraine from 1989 to 1999, utilizing data from the 1989 USSR census and official 1999 population estimates. General urban population dynamics first are investigated at the national and oblast levels, with a focus on the effects of natural population dynamics and migration. The analysis then shifts to individual urban centers, focusing on rapidly growing, declining, and disappearing and new towns. Linkages are explored between towns of each type and their major economic functions.

An American geographer specializing in population change and urbanization in the countries of the former USSR examines urban population change in Kazakhstan over the period 1989-1998. The focus is on trends in urbanization, urban population growth, and changes in the populations of individual urban centers, with discussion of the latter emphasizing locational patterns and economic functions of the centers. The analysis is based on materials from the 1989 USSR census, official 1995-1998 population estimates, and preliminary results from the 1999 Kazakhstan census, with extensive coverage devoted to the availability of information in a variety of Kazakh statistical sources and other publications.

An assessment of the population trends within the metropolitan areas in Russia and the Former Soviet Union from 1897 to 1997, with emphasis on the period between 1970 and 1997, is presented. The metropolitan areas considered are those having more than one million people with a central city and other urban centers of more than 15,000 people within a 50-mi radius. It was observed that the rapid population growth from 1970 to 1989 slowed down during the 1980s and 1990s. Moreover, the population shift form the central city to suburbs was very slight.

Research has been undertaken into the locations in Russia where rapid urban growth took place between 1989 and 1996. Particular attention was given to economic functions, geographical patterns and population size in rapidly expanding urban centres. There were only around 280 rapidly growing towns during this period, around one-third the number of the period 1979 to 1989. The largest share of rapidly expanding towns was situated in the interior central and southern regions of the North Caucasus, Urals and Volga.

Urban decline, dating from the late Soviet period, is evident in the rising incidents of declining and disappearing towns in post-Soviet Russia. Data for analyzing urban changes reveal that declining towns comprise two-fifths of all urban centers in the industrial regions of Russia. These include towns with diverse functional attributes, such as industrial, recreational and administrative centers. Disappearing towns increased to over a hundred, signifying the economic and political uncertainties of the transition period.

This article investigates economic region net migration patterns in the USSR during the 1979-89 intercensal period. Net in-migration and net migration rate increases (compared to 1970-79) occurred in both the western and eastern portions of the Northern USSR region, while net out-migration and rate declines occurred throughout the Southern USSR. Net in-migration again occurred to Siberia, especially Tyumen' Oblast, and there was a reduced rate of net out-migration from the Nonchernozem Zone and Central Chernozem Region of European RSFSR.

An American geographer specializing in population change and urbanization in countries of the former USSR analyzes spatial patterns of urban population change in Uzbekistan from 1989 to 1999, utilizing data from the 1989 USSR census and the latest official population estimates. The country's general urban population dynamics are examined first at national and oblast levels, with an emphasis on discerning effects of natural population growth vis-a-vis migration. The focus then shifts to individual urban centers and on identifying groups of rapidly growing, declining, disappearing, and new towns. The paper then explores linkages between towns of each type and their major economic functions. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: O18, R12, R23.3 figures, 7 tables, 70 references, 4 appendices.

The existence, populations and characteristics of 'closed administrative territorial formations' (CATF) or secret cities of Russia and other former Soviet Union countries, particularly Kazakhstan, were examined. Since 1996, 41 CATFs were designated and additional five settlements were established in 1998. These five secret cities were Mezhgor'ye of Bashkortostan, Bol'shoy Kamen of Primorskiy Kray, Raduzhnyy of Vladimir Oblast, Severomorsk of Murmansk Oblast and Shikhany of Saratov Oblast. Updated cartographic and population information were provided for these CATFs.