00211 - Demography

Learning outcomes

The course aims to develop the understanding of population dynamics and the relationships between individual demographic behaviours and contextual factors. It starts from the long-term analysis of the world’s population and the links between demographic and socio-economic factors in human history, in order to come up with current issues of topical interest. On the one hand, global concerns such as international migration, inequality, social policies and sustainable development are tackled, on the other hand the course addresses the recent trends that characterize the European and the Italian population such as aging, very low fertility, delay in the transition to adulthood and the spread of new forms of union. The approach used seeks to highlight the interdisciplinary character of demographic research and to develop skills in quantitative analysis.

At the end of the course, the student will be able to:

• critically evaluate the demographic trends by inserting them within a suitable socio-demographic theory;
• assess and apply the main demographic measures and population development indicators;
• apply the appropriate quantitative research strategy for the analysis of data coming from the major demographic and social surveys at international level.

Course contents

The course is organized with a part of lectures taught online on MS TEAMS (20 hours) and another taught in presence (30 hours). The number of students allowed in class is determined on the basis of class capacity and by the health and safety provisions that deal with the pandemic emergency. In case more students want to attend classes in presence than permitted by the rules, a system of shifts will be organized so to allow students to participate. Regardless of the health-related conditions and the specific organization of the course, students will be able to follow the lessons of the entire course remotely on MS TEAMS.

 

Program

The course aims to develop the understanding of population dynamics and the relationships between individual demographic behaviours and contextual factors. It starts from the long-term analysis of the world’s population and the links between demographic and socio-economic factors in human history, in order to come up with current issues of topical interest. On the one hand, global concerns such as international migration, inequality, social policies and sustainable development are tackled, on the other hand the course addresses the recent trends that characterize the European and the Italian population such as aging, very low fertility, delay in the transition to adulthood and the spread of new forms of union. The approach used seeks to highlight the interdisciplinary character of demographic research and to develop skills in quantitative analysis.

Overall, at the end of the course, students will be able to:

• critically evaluate the demographic trends by inserting them within a suitable socio-demographic theory;
• assess and apply the main demographic measures and population development indicators;
• apply the appropriate quantitative research strategy for the analysis of data coming from the major demographic and social surveys at international level.

 

Contents

The long-term evolution of the world’s population. The major epidemics and demographic mechanisms of adaptation and self-regulation. Demographic growth and economic development. The demographic transition. Recent demographic trends in Europe and Italy (low fertility, mortality, aging). Reproductive choices and welfare system. Family-work conciliation in Italy. Young people, the delayed transition to adulthood, and family ties.

The sources of Demography. Population growth measures. Elements of Demographic Analysis (age, structure, Lexis diagram, rates and probabilities, fertility and reproductive measures). Life tables and survival analysis. Population projections.

International migration in a global perspective. Theories explaining human mobility. The Italian and Mediterranean framework. 

The demographic future. Demographic projections. Building different scenarios. Destiny and determination. Which future?

Readings/Bibliography

• Online documents on the VIRTUALE platform.
• M. Livi Bacci. Storia minima della popolazione del mondo. Il Mulino. Bologna. 2011.
• G. De Santis. Demografia. Il Mulino. 2010. Capitoli: 1(tutto), 2 (par 1-7), 3 (tutto), 4 (tutto), 5 (par 1-4), 6 (par. 1-6), 8 (par. 1,2), 9(par 1,2), 10 (tutto), 11(tutto)
• A. Rosina e A. De Rose. Demografia. Egea. Milano. 2017.

 

Suggested readings

• R. Impicciatore e A. Rosina. Europa e Africa: demografia e flussi migratori. In Torelli, S.M. (Ed.) La sfida mediterranea. Alle radici della pressione migratoria. 2019. Reset book.
• R. Impicciatore. Il ruolo della demografia. In Bellettini, G. and Goldstein, A. (Eds) L’economia italiana dopo il Covid-19. Come ricominciare a crescere?. Bononia University Press. 2020.
• R. Impicciatore e R. Ghigi, Meno famiglia, più famiglia o nuova famiglia? Neodemos.info, 2018.

 

Teaching methods

Lessons, seminars, exercises using Excel software.

Assessment methods

Written test

Teaching tools

Online materials (slides, papers, exercises, etc.) on the VIRTUALE platform.

Use of computing equipment for processing spreadsheets.

 

Office hours

See the website of Roberto Impicciatore