Demography in stochastic environments. I. Exact distributions of age structure (Q801848)

A demographic model, involving ''young'' and ''old'' individuals, is described by a \(2\times 2\) stochastic Leslie matrix. The random parameter is P, the survival probability of the ''young''. The author is looking for the invariant cumulative distribution V(.) of the ''old'' to ''young'' ratio. In the simplest case, P assumes two values with probabilities, \(\pi\) and 1-\(\pi\), independently in each population. Then Y(.) satisfies a functional equation: \[ V(x)=1-\pi V(g_ 1(x))-(1-\pi)V(g_ 2(x)). \] For some region of parameters values, V(x) is proved to be a step function with infinitely many steps (given explicitely) while in the complement of this region it is conjectured to be absolutely continuous. Other special cases (continuous distribution of P, intergeneration correlations) are also considered.