Individual reviews: National atlas of the Federal Republic of Germany, volume 4: Population

Wolfgang Aschauer reviews Volume 4, Population (2001), of the National Atlas of the Federal Republic of Germany, edited by Paul Gans and Franz-Josef Kemper. Its 46 sections combine maps, explanatory texts and graphics to cover population distribution and structure, socioeconomic characteristics, natural population change and migration. He finds that the volume offers a comprehensive overview of population geography and regional differences within Germany, and praises its cartographic design and layout. He criticizes inconsistent and repetitive glossary entries, misleading maps that should have been corrected during production, and insufficient explanations for readers unfamiliar with thematic maps. He also warns against inferring individual relationships from correlations between area-level characteristics. His overall assessment is favorable, and he calls for a substantial reduction in the price of 99 euros to broaden circulation.