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Demography 393
Conference which outlined a plan for a vast research programme. Following
on this conference, a committee of experts was, in 1967, given the task of select-
ing a small number from among the most important subjects for investigation,
and these were handed over by the Committee of Ministers of the Council to
some ten demographers who were instructed to promote the necessary research
in the European research organizations. The action of these demographers wil
be supported by the authority of 17 governments, members of the Council of
Europe, and it is to be hoped that this action wil prove more effective than the
resolutions passed by the United Nations institutions which governments,
unfortunately, tend too often to ignore.
Finally, in 1971 the Council of Europe is to convene a second European
Demographic Conference at which the results of researches thus undertaken
wil be discussed.
Private initiatives taken
123. W e must not forget to mention the activities of private organizations which
have greatly contributed towards the progress of demographic research through-
out the world. In most cases they are American foundations which do not
themselves engage in research, but give financial assistance to individual re-
searchers or to research institutes. Being more flexible than the official organiza-
tions, they can intervene precisely in those cases where the latter fail to act, and
so they have a far-reaching catalytic effect. We may mention the following:
- the Population Council
- the Ford Foundation
- the Milbank Memorial Fund
- the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
- the Tata Institute of Social Sciences
- the Getdio Vargas Foundation
Gaps to be filled
124. Despite the progress made in the last fifty years, the organization of
demographic research still appears incomplete. Though its principles seem to
have been accepted by all, they are far from being applied everywhere, more
often than not because of lack of funds. Teaching, moreover, needs to be co-
ordinated between the various countries and, indeed, between the various
universities inside these countries. Sound research requires that researchers
should receive as uniform a training as possible. We have already pointed out
how considerable efforts have been made in the past few years to build a properly
equipped educational structure with its professorships, university degrees and
textbooks. A good deal remains to be done, and this presents a good opportunity
for international action.
125. Lastly, we come to the question of collaboration with scientists of other
branches. Collaboration within the limits of the same institute does not solvejit
entirely, owing to the fact that you cannot assemble together under one roof all
the scientists whose services wil only be needed now and again.