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Michail Raftakis

@mraftakis.bsky.social
248 followers 498 following 41 posts

Postdoc at the University of Bologna. Historical demographer. www.researchgate.net/profile/Michai…

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Reposted by Michail Raftakis
GREATLEAP COST Action @thegreatleap22116.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
Today we are at the Babeș-Bolyai University - "Bridging Perspectives and Connecting Threads on Historical Health Inequalities" GREATLEAP Cost Milestone Conference in Cluj-Napoca.
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eshistdemo.bsky.social @eshistdemo.bsky.social · 13/09/2025
#ESHD2025 Last Key Note Talk Julieta Rotaru @Inalco Ethnic Identity Formation and Socio-Professional Dynamics: A Study of Romanians, Gypsies, and Rudari in the Romanian Principalities
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Michail Raftakis @mraftakis.bsky.social · 11/09/2025
oday, keynote talk is given by Pulitzer Prize winner David Kertzer on Changing Jews into Aryan’s in Fascist Italy #ESHD2025
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Michail Raftakis @mraftakis.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
#ESDH2025 has started! Prof. Guido Barbujani is giving the first keynote on the famous human races.
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Our World in Data @ourworldindata.org · 10/09/2025
Global maternal mortality rates have fallen by almost 60% since 1985
The image presents a line graph depicting global maternal mortality rates from 1985 to 2023. The y-axis represents the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, ranging from 0 to 500, while the x-axis spans the years from 1985 to 2023. 

The graph shows a downward trend in maternal mortality rates, starting at approximately 460 in 1985 and declining steadily over the years. A notable increase is observed during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, but by 2023, the rate has decreased to about 197. This marks a 57% reduction compared to the rates in 1985. 

Annotations highlight key points, such as the spike during the pandemic and the significant decrease achieved by 2023. 

The data sources for this graph include the WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank, and UN DESA (2025). There is a note stating that the estimates aim to adjust for underreporting and misclassification. The image is credited with a Creative Commons attribution.
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Société et Annales de Démographie Historique @sdh-demohisto.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
C'est parti ! @eshistdemo.bsky.social
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Michail Raftakis @mraftakis.bsky.social · 05/09/2025
#ESHD2025 is just 5 days away! Soon Bologna will become the hub of historical demography. We’re finalizing the last details and look forward to welcoming scholars from across the globe. Check out the most updated programme here: eshd2025.eshd.eu/programme/
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Alice Reid @amrcampop.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
We've done it: 60 blogs over our 60th Anniversary Year! Check out all 60 #Campop blogs here www.campop.geog.cam.ac.uk/blog/, and keep your eyes peeled for occasional blogs to follow in the same space! @camunicampop.bsky.social @camunigeography.bsky.social @camhistory.bsky.social
campop.geog.cam.ac.uk
The Cambridge Group for the History of Population and Social Structure, Cambridge
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Michail Raftakis @mraftakis.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
It was a pleasure to teach our @thegreatleap22116.bsky.social cause-of-death coding course at @monashuniversity.bsky.social in Melbourne with colleagues joining from Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand.
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Michail Raftakis @mraftakis.bsky.social · 19/07/2025
After a week in Brisbane for #IPC2025, I’m on my way to Melbourne for a research stay at @monashuniversity.bsky.social for coding historical causes of death and discussing AI and construction of historical databases. Pretty excited
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Michail Raftakis @mraftakis.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
In Cambridge, as part of the @thegreatleap22116.bsky.social -funded Training Course on Coding Historical Causes of Death, we spent two days—together with @amrcampop.bsky.social , M. Murkens, and E. Garrett—training participants from across Europe in the use of the ICD10h.
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Jenn Dowd @drjenndowd.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
Fascinating story--loved learning that John Snow was also compelled to correct popular misconceptions of science! #episky
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Michail Raftakis @mraftakis.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
In Zurich for the @thegreatleap22116.bsky.social workshop 'Analysing Historical Mortality and Cause of Death Data' – a very fruitful two days with researchers from diverse backgrounds and excellent ideas for future work.
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Michail Raftakis @mraftakis.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
Excited to share our new paper w/ K. Wienholts, M. Murkens and M. Mühlichen, just published in Medical History! We explore “infantile convulsions” as a historical cause of death using data from four European cities, 1800–1955.
cambridge.org
Convulsions as a cause of infant death: New insights into its meaning based on evidence from four European cities (1800–1955) | Medical History | Cambridge Core
Convulsions as a cause of infant death: New insights into its meaning based on evidence from four European cities (1800–1955)
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Michail Raftakis @mraftakis.bsky.social · 26/05/2025
🚨 Call for Applications! 🚨 📅 22–23 July 2025 📍 Monash University, Melbourne 🇦🇺 💀 Historical mortality meets digital innovation! 🔹 ICD10h Training Course (22 Jul) 🔹 Digital History Symposium (23 Jul) Apply by **11 June** ➡️ (docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...)
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Alice Reid @amrcampop.bsky.social · 22/05/2025
Campop blog #49: Levels of self-employment were low in mid-20th century UK: Bob Bennett explains how much higher they were in the 19th century, as well as who was self-employed and why @camunicampop.bsky.social www.campop.geog.cam.ac.uk/blog/2025/05...
campop.geog.cam.ac.uk
The Cambridge Group for the History of Population and Social Structure, CambridgeWho was self-employed in the past? « Top of the Campops: 60 things you didn't know about family, marriage, work, and d...
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Sanne Muurling @smuurling.bsky.social · 20/05/2025
Exciting to see the seven little maps I made for this book about diseases and mortality in 19th and early 20th c Amsterdam in print ✨ (Book recommendation, too! Get your copy now: libris.nl/a/owen-lamme...)
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Michail Raftakis @mraftakis.bsky.social · 14/05/2025
After sitting in the drawer for a few years, my paper on tuberculosis mortality in early 20th-century Greece has just been finally published in Social Science History. bit.ly/44CJIVL
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GREATLEAP COST Action @thegreatleap22116.bsky.social · 12/05/2025
📝 WORKSHOP: Writing Individual Grants on Inequalities in Health 📅 June 25 | ⏰ 14:00 – 15:30 CET | 💻 Online Planning to apply for an individual research grant? Join our interactive workshop focused on crafting strong proposals in the field of health inequalities. 🧵⬇️
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Alexis Litvine @alexislitvine.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
If you don’t know your Miss for your Mrs I strongly suggest you read our new @camunicampop.bsky.social blog by Amy Erickson on the history of these titles. www.campop.geog.cam.ac.uk/blog/2025/05...
campop.geog.cam.ac.uk
The Cambridge Group for the History of Population and Social Structure, CambridgeWhen Mrs wasn’t married « Top of the Campops: 60 things you didn't know about family, marriage, work, and death since the middle ages
The Cambridge Group for the History of Population and Social Structure
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Ingrid van Dijk @ingridvandijk.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
Apply before May 15th for the doctoral positions at the Centre for Economic Demography at Lund University with my colleagues Martin Dribe, Jeanne Cilliers or with me! These are externally funded, 4-year positions in fascinating projects. We're a highly international department in a cute small city 🌞
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Francisco J. Beltrán Tapia @fjbeltrantapia.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
Looking for a PhD candidate to study how first names provided information about parental values and beliefs in historical Europe (circa 1750-1950). More info on the position here: www.jobbnorge.no/en/available...
jobbnorge.no
PhD Candidate in History (279729) | NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Job title: PhD Candidate in History (279729), Employer: NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Deadline: Sunday, June 1, 2025
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Stefania Galli @galli-stef.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
👀 Don’t miss out on the opportunity to join our wonderful unit in beautiful Göteborg, Sweden! 2-3 fully funded doctoral position in Economic/Business history ✌️Join a young and supportive bunch of researchers with the unique opportunity to develop your own research agenda!
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Michail Raftakis @mraftakis.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
My first ever PAA! Excited to be here to connect with other scholars and to hear such high-quality ongoing research #PAA2025
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Michail Raftakis @mraftakis.bsky.social · 10/04/2025
I'm in DC for #PAA2025, but today I'm spending my afternoon at the Library of Congress. Look at my view
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Reposted by Michail Raftakis
Alice Reid @amrcampop.bsky.social · 27/03/2025
Whoops, meant to say 'the introduction of midwifery training did NOT seem to have an impact - today's blog explains why'
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Michail Raftakis @mraftakis.bsky.social · 25/03/2025
On my way to Leiden for ESSHC 2025 — excited to connect with other scholars and share research in progress. Tomorrow, I'll be presenting a paper on stillbirths in early 20th-century Greece among colleagues and friends.
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Michail Raftakis @mraftakis.bsky.social · 22/03/2025
We are organizing this super cool training course on coding Historical Causes of Death in Cambridge this summer. Deadline is approaching, April 1st.
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Association for Young Historical Demographers @ayhdemographers.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
📢 GREATLEAP Networking Event! At the same time and place, @thegreatleap22116.bsky.social is hosting an informal event to talk to peers and mentors about mortality. With drinks! Want to sign up? ⬇️ 📍 Einstein, Leiden 📆 27 March 18:00-20:00 ℹ️ Info & registration: greatleap.eu/event/mentor...
greatleap.eu
Mentoring and Networking Event at European Social Science History Conference
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Gabriele Cappelli @gaber86.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
Our article "Human capital in Europe, 1830s–1930s: A general survey" is out in an issue at the Journal fo Economic Surveys 39 (2), which is a special issue titled "Metrics and Drivers of Well‐Being in the Long‐Run." 1/2
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Saloni @scientificdiscovery.dev · 24/02/2025
In a new article, I explore the baby boom in 7 charts, including some trends you (probably) didn't know: 1. Birth rates began to rise in the 1930s, before World War II
A line graph depicting U.S. birth rates from 1920 to 2024 is shown. The vertical axis represents the birth rate, measured in the number of births per 1,000 people.

The line starts below 20 in the 1920s, dips during the 1930s, and begins rising in the 1930s, marked by a highlighted area around 1940. A peak occurs at the end of World War II in the mid-1940s, where the birth rate surges and reaches around 30. This period is noted as the "baby boom," particularly highlighting the year 1946 as its start. After this peak, the trend shows a gradual decline in birth rates into the late 20th century and early 21st century, settling below 15 by 2024. 

Annotations on the graph point out that birth rates were actually on the rise in the 1930s before the significant increase during the baby boom period. The data sources for this information include Colby and Ortman (2014), the Human Mortality Database (2024), and the UN World Population Prospects (2024). The chart is published by Our World in Data, under a CC-BY license by author Saloni Dattani.
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Alison Gemmill @alisongemmill.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
Our two papers on abortion bans and fertility/infant mortality are now out. In 14 states w/ abortion bans, fertility increased 1.7% and infant mortality increased 6%. Key takeaway is that these impacts were disproportionately felt among those w/ greatest structural disadvantages. Links below.
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Michail Raftakis @mraftakis.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
Only 2 days left to submit your abstract for the ESHD conference! ⏳✨ Beyond an intellectually stimulating event, we promise delicious food, beautiful weather, and magnificent walks around the city. Don't miss out! 📜🍷🌿
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INED (in english) @ined-english.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
The call for applications for the European Doctoral School of Demography (EDSD) 2025-2026 is open! This international doctoral program aims to provide students with a high-level education in demography. Deadline to apply: March 25th, 2025 at 12 PM (noon). More information: eaps.nl/edsd/how-to-...
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Michail Raftakis @mraftakis.bsky.social · 03/02/2025
📢 Deadline extended! You now have until Feb 14 to submit your abstract for the forthcoming ESHD conference in Bologna in Sep 2025.
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Alice Reid @amrcampop.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
Campop blog #33: In the UK the infants of non-cohabiting parents are still at higher risk of infant death than those of cohabiting parents. This week's blog explores the historical trends and reasons for such disadvantage @camunicampop.bsky.social www.campop.geog.cam.ac.uk/blog/2025/01...
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Rebecca Sear @rebeccasear.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
"findings reveal diminishing role of vertical ties (parents–children) & increasing significance of horizontal ties (between siblings). Intensification of horizontal ties is seen as cooperative, challenging the notion of a loss of family influence during industrialization"
tandfonline.com
Towards more horizontality in families? Sibling associations in socio-economic status in the Barcelona area in the sixteenth to nineteenth centuries
This paper explores the shift in family influence on socio-economic outcomes, focusing on sibling relationships, from the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries in the Barcelona area. Our findings r...
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Cambridge Group for the History of Population & Social Structure @camunicampop.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
📣New blog post alert! 📣 The covid pandemic radically changed where - and how - we work. WFH became the "new normal", with much of the extra domestic burden falling on women. But was this, in fact, a break with the past - or a return to historical norms? www.campop.geog.cam.ac.uk/blog #skystorians
campop.geog.cam.ac.uk
The Cambridge Group for the History of Population and Social Structure, Cambridge Top of the Campops: 60 things you didn't know about family, marriage, work, and death since the middle ages
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Association for Young Historical Demographers @ayhdemographers.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
There's still time to submit to the ESHD Conference in September! Reminder: the AYHD is organising a Flash Session! Here you can present early-stage work or research already presented in other sessions. To submit, mention "Flash session (AYHD)" in the Session proposal field. eshd2025.eshd.eu
eshd2025.eshd.eu
Home - ESHD2025 Conference
Call for Papers 6th Conference of the European Society of Historical Demography The European Society of Historical Demography is pleased to invite submissions for its 6th Conference, to be held in Bol...
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Josh Rhodes @joshrhodes.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
So pleased my article on geo-coding addresses of 121 million + people in British censuses 1851-1911 is now out with Historical Methods! #openaccess - map any census info (ages, occupations, birthplaces etc) by address - link census to other spatial datasets Get the code and data 👇
Map of London in 1901 showing percentage of people born overseas by street.
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Sandra Brée @sandrabree.bsky.social · 20/01/2025
Bonjour les nouveaux.elles !pour suivre des historien.nes démographes c'est ici ! Hello to the new ones! If you want to follow historical demographers, it's here! go.bsky.app/5kHeTWH
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Michail Raftakis @mraftakis.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
Join us at Cambridge in early July to code historical causes of death!
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Alice Evans @draliceevans.bsky.social · 11/01/2025
Coupling and Fertility are Falling. In Finland, Mexico, Peru, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey and the US, both are going down. Superb column by @jburnmurdoch.bsky.social A must-read for anyone interested in why fertility is falling, and how to respond. 🧵
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Michail Raftakis @mraftakis.bsky.social · 13/01/2025
Deadline is approaching. Only a few weeks left to apply for the ESHD, which will be held in beautiful Bologna in September 2025.
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London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine @lshtm.bsky.social · 10/01/2025
📢 Gaza: 64,000 deaths due to violence between October 2023 & June 2024, new study estimates. LSHTM research in The Lancet suggests Palestinian Ministry of Health underreported death toll due to traumatic injury by approximately 41%. www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/n...
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Alice Reid @amrcampop.bsky.social · 09/01/2025
Campop blog #30: Were all workhouses the oppressive institutions of Dickens' Oliver Twist? Jeremy Boulton and Samantha Williams show that 18th century workhouses, in contrast to later ones, were usually humane and kindly places @camunicampop.bsky.social www.campop.geog.cam.ac.uk/blog/2025/01...
campop.geog.cam.ac.uk
The Cambridge Group for the History of Population and Social Structure, CambridgeWere all workhouses Dickensian? Indoor relief under the Old Poor Law (1601-1834) « Top of the Campops: 60 things you d...
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Saloni @scientificdiscovery.dev · 23/12/2024
Many people talk about the "Golden Age of Antibiotics", but I hadn't seen it visualized properly. Just how many types of antibiotics were discovered during that time? So, I visualized it myself!
A timeline titled "The Golden Age of Antibiotics" shows when each antibiotic drug class was first available for medical use, with example antibiotics labeled. Classes are color-coded by their source: actinomycetes, other bacteria, fungi, or synthetic. Milestones include the first antibiotics (arsphenamines in 1910), as well as the discovery of many actinomycetes-derived antibiotics, such as streptomycin, and sulfonamides, penicillins, and tetracyclines. Data: Hutchings, Truman, Wilkinson (2019). Created by Saloni Dattani for Our World in Data.
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Rebecca Sear @rebeccasear.bsky.social · 23/12/2024
Judge the success of family policies on their impact on family wellbeing NOT fertility, argue two demographers in this review of family policies in low fertility countries. They find family policies have relatively limited impact on fertility anyway onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
<em>Population and Development Review</em> | Population Council Journal | Wiley Online Library
Family policies, defined as measures designed to support families with children, are part of modern welfare states. They range from punctual measures provided at the birth of a child to measures aime....
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Jon Piccini @jonpiccini.bsky.social · 23/12/2024
The movie Home Alone was released in November 1990, at the start of the US-led Gulf War. It was #1 at the box office until that wars end, in February 1991. The film’s popularity can in part be explained by its fitting with liberal arguments about America’s failure in Vietnam 1/10
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Michail Raftakis @mraftakis.bsky.social · 23/12/2024
We are delighted to have David Kertzer as our keynote speaker (and to meet him in person!) at the #ESHD2025 Conference.
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