On the 110th anniversary of the birth of Boris Ts. Urlanis

Abstract

This article describes certain innovative and forward-thinking ideas of the famous Soviet and Russian demographer and statistician Boris Tsezarevich Urlanis that are still as relevant as ever. The author draws attention to the historical period, which accounted for the creative works of this remarkable scientist, with its detrimental ideological limitations and censorship that he had to overcome. Boris Urlanis was a savant in methodology of demographic statistics and population projections, and this paper aims not only at underlining his achievements but also at presenting his preferences in selecting major works by foreign scientists to substantiate his own conclusions and to establish patterns and regularities. He is celebrated as a demographer and statistician for being a pioneer in both formulating questions, introducing topical issues and in arriving at unconventional conclusions, which placed him far ahead of contemporary scholars. The author determines that many of the issues raised by this scientist are still waiting to be addressed by the society and politicians.