pop.sim.gomp: Simulation of a population of adults with Gompertz...

In mortAAR: Analysis of Archaeological Mortality Data

Simulation of a population of adults with Gompertz distribution

Description

In many instances, it is useful to calculate with a population with known parameters. To generate a population with realistic characteristics is less obvious than it seems. We operate here with the Gompertz distribution which provides a reasonable approximation of human mortality for adult mortality, that is for the ages >= 15 years. The user has to specify either the parameter b or the modal age M. The modal age M is particular useful as it provides an intuitive understanding of the resulting age distribution. In both instances, the second parameter a is generated by the regression formula found by Sasaki and Kondo 2016. If neither is given, a population with random parameters realistic for pre-modern times is generated.

Usage

pop.sim.gomp(n, b = NULL, M = NULL, start_age = 15, max_age = 100)

Arguments

n	number of individuals to be simulated.
b	numeric, optional. Gompertz parameter controlling the level of mortality.
M	numeric, optional. Modal age M.
start_age	numeric. Start age, default: 15 years.
max_age	numeric. Maximal age, to avoid unlikely centenaries, default: 100 years.

Value

A list of two data.frames with the following items:

First data.frame

• N: Number of individuals.

• b: Gompertz parameter controlling mortality.

• M: Modal age.

• a: Gompertz parameter controlling hazard of the youngest age group.

Second data.frame

• ind: ID of individuals.

• age: Simulated absolute age.

References

\insertRef

sasaki_kondo_2016mortAAR

Examples

pop_sim <- pop.sim.gomp(n = 10000, M = 35)
pop_sim <- pop.sim.gomp(n = 10000, b = 0.03)
pop_sim <- pop.sim.gomp(n = 10000)

mortAAR documentation built on April 4, 2025, 4:14 a.m.