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Nonparametric graduation techniques as a common framework for the description of demographic patterns

Figure 13. Observed and estimated age-specific nuptiality rates, Spain, Figure 14. Observed and estimated age-specific nuptiality rates,
males, 1990 Greece, females, 2002.

Figure 15. Observed and estimated period age-specific fertility rates, Figure 16. Observed and estimated age-specific nuptiality rates,
Italy, males, 1991. Germany, females, 1998.

6. Conclusions

In this paper, we evaluated and compared SVMs and kernels for graduating age-specific demo-
graphic rates. The performance of these two nonparametric techniques has been evaluated by apply-
ing them to a set of empirical mortality, fertility, and nuptiality rates of different populations and
time periods. Moreover, parametric models are fitted to these rates in order to compare their effec-
tiveness. With regards to the values of the typical minimization criteria, the results for the two non-
parametric techniques are apparently closer to the empirical values than those provided by the para-

16 International Journal of Population Studies | 2016, Volume 2, Issue 1