00211 - Demography

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student possesses knowledge of the basic tools to analyze the structural and dynamic aspects of populations and to understand the interactions between various demographic phenomena. Specifically, the student is able to:

• Measure the size, variation, and distribution of the population over time and space.
• Measure and analyze the structural characteristics of the population.
• Measure and analyze the components of population dynamics.

Course contents

I. Introduction to population studies. What is demography. Demographic sources.

II. Population and development. World demographic growth. Theoretical relationship between demographic growth and development and critique of theories. Public intervention and demographic policies.

III. Population structure and growth. Determination of population size. Population growth. Population structure.

IV. Factors affecting population evolution. Population movement phenomena. Crude and specific rates. Rate comparisons.

V. Analysis of demographic phenomena. Basic tools and concepts. Mortality. Marriage. Fertility. Mobility and migration.

VI. Demographic forecasts. Object of demographic forecasts. Synthetic method. Analytical method. Derived forecasts.

Readings/Bibliography

Mandatory readings:

• Gian Carlo Blangiardo, Elementi di demografia. Il Mulino, Bologna, 2006.

• Course material provided by the instructor on Virtuale.

Optional readings:

• Massimo Livi Bacci, Storia minima della popolazione del mondo. Il Mulino, Bologna, 2016.

• Alessandro Rosina e Roberto Impicciatore, Storia demografica d'Italia. Crescita, crisi e sfide. Carocci editore, 2022.

• Alessandro Rosina e Alessandra De Rose, Demografia (second edition). Egea, 2017.

• David Graeber, L'alba di tutto. Una nuova storia dell'umanità. Rizzoli, 2022.

Teaching methods

The course program will be fully covered during the 60 hours of lectures. The lectures will be accompanied by weekly laboratory exercises aimed at applying the demographic analysis methods introduced theoretically to real-world data.

Considering the nature of the activities and the teaching methods adopted, the attendance of this training activity requires all students to participate in the safety modules 1 and 2 on studying places [https://elearning-sicurezza.unibo.it/ ] in e-learning mode.

Assessment methods

The course takes place in the first semester and does not include mid-term exams.

There are two exam sessions at the end of the winter term (January and February), plus a third and a fourth session held respectively in June and September.

The final evaluation aims to assess the knowledge, understanding, and level of proficiency in demographic analysis methods and the main demographic theories covered during the frontal lectures.

The evaluation consists of a written test lasting 1 hour and 30 minutes, including both exercises and theoretical questions.

Grading scale:
- 18-23: sufficient preparation and analysis skills, but limited to a few topics covered during the course.
- 24-27: technically adequate preparation, but with some limitations regarding the topics addressed; good analytical skills, although not particularly detailed.
- 28-30: excellent knowledge of a wide range of topics covered during the course; good analytical and critical skills.
- 30L: outstanding, extensive, and comprehensive knowledge of the course topics; strong analytical and critical skills.

Registration for the tests is done through the Almaesami web page.

Teaching tools

The main teaching tools are PowerPoint presentations and Excel spreadsheets. The instructor will also provide the students with a variety of additional teaching materials, such as web resources, data sets, scholarly articles, infographics, reports, data visualizations, indicator dashboards, interactive web pages, data and metadata repositories, opinion polls, press articles, and textual and video content for social networks.

Office hours

See the website of Francesca Tosi