On the intrinsic force of convergence to stability∗

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Abstract
Observed populations differ greatly in the speed with which they approach the stable form, but what determines rates of convergence is not fully understood. The present paper shows that the force of convergence does not approach a fixed value, but oscillates indefinitely around an “intrinsic”; level. That level, h∗, is determined by the square of the ratio of the 2 largest eigenvalues of the Leslie matrix. The value of h∗ can be closely approximated by a simple function that changes directly with the square of the coefficient of variation and inversely with the mean of the stable net maternity function. Population entropy, another measure of dispersion relative to the mean, is also highly correlated with h∗.

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