Many social processes can be represented by individuals being in, and transitioning between, states. Statistical modelling of such processes can be done using multistate models. Multistate models are becoming an increasingly popular tool for social scientists, as they provide many quantities to describe longitudinal data in general and life course trajectories in particular. For instance, multistate models are commonly used to estimate healthy life expectancy, i.e., the average lifetime spent in good health. 

In this course we provide a mostly non-technical introduction to discrete-time multistate models, their theoretical foundations and assumptions, and their empirical estimation with R. Participants will be guided through all steps required to generate some of the key outputs of discrete-time multistate models, such as state expectancies. This equips them with the skills and tools needed to use and implement multistate models in their own research.

The course will be held on August 17 at the Hertie School, Berlin, as part of the "Second International Workshop on Life Course Analysis." If you are interested in joining the course without participating in the workshop, please send an email to lifecourse@demogr.mpg.de 

The course will be taugt by Dr. Christian Dudel (Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research), who has extensive experience in developing and applying multistate methods. For more information, you can use the navigation bar.

Example applications of multistate models:

• Abrams, L., Dudel, C., Feraldi, A. (2025): Who works while sick and who enjoys the golden years? Changing disparities in time spent in health and work after age 50 in the United States. Work, Aging and Retirement. https://doi.org/10.1093/workar/waaf023 

• Moretti, M., Korhonen, K., van Raalte, A., Riffe, T., Martikainen, P. (2025): Evolution of widowhood lifespan and its gender and educational inequalities in Finland over three decades. Demography 65(2): 1635-1660. https://doi.org/10.1215/00703370-12269717 

• Hale, J., Dudel, C., Lorenti, A. (2021): Cumulative disparities in the dynamics of working poverty for later-career U.S. workers (2002-2012). Socius 7. https://doi.org/10.1177/2378023120987332 

• Hiilamo, A., Hermansen, A. (2026): Financial strain in Norway: the lifetime risk of and expected time spent in payment problems. International Journal of Social Welfare 35(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/ijsw.70053