The PICRATE model for fitting the age pattern of first marriage

[摘要] We present a new model for fitting the age pattern of entry into a new situation. The formulation of the marriage recruitment rate is simpler than in other available models, and particularly useful for computer simulation of the time-evolution of a population. The model has three parameters: a0, the starting age at event, pmax, the maximum proportion of the population at risk p(a), and rmax, the maximum value of the recruitment rate r(a). This model was tested on the entry into first union, and was compared with the widely-used Coale-McNeil model. We applied this model to the case of Zambia, and to a variety of African countries with different features. This model could also be used for fitting a variety of processes, such as first sexual intercourse, first birth, first job, first adult migration, etc

[学科分类] 数学（综合）

[关键词] Africa;age at first marriage;Coale-McNeil model;DHS survey;event history;mathematical model