29234 - international Demography

Learning outcomes

 

The student obtains specific knowledge that enables him

- to comprehend demographic behaviour in the different world regions; - to include demographic behaviours in the wider context of social and economic development; - to discuss in a comparative way arguments related to mortality, fertility, migration and population growth; - to identify and use data to study the links between demographic behaviour, development and poverty in less developed countries with a high degree of autonomy.

Course contents

Methods of demography: basic concepts and measures revision;

- World's population dynamics;

- The demographic transition;

- Demographic behaviour and economic trends;

- Development indicators;

- Theories on the relationship between demographic trends and development;

- The world's distribution of wealth: poverty and inequality;

- European populations. Demographic and social dynamics in the European Union. The demographic East/West divide. Russian chrisis and demographic trends;

- Demography and social change in the Mediterranean area;

- Population problems in developing countries. Case studies: Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, China, India.

- International migrations: theories, trends, demographic and socio-economic consequences;

- International conferences on population; Millennium Development Goals;

-United Nation hypothesis on future demographic trends;

- Demographic data sources. Demographic Surveys. International data sources.

A part of the course will take place in the computer lab, on international data sources.

Readings/Bibliography

.) Aurora Angeli, Silvana Salvini (2007), Popolazione e sviluppo nelle regioni del mondo. Convergenze e divergenze nei comportamenti demografici,Il Mulino, Bologna.

.) United Nations (2013), Population Facts, N. 2013/1 Changes in Government Views and Policies on Population since the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development ( http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/factsheets/ )

For a depth on Millennium Development Goals: United Nations Development Programme, What are the Millennium Development Goals? (http://www.undp.org/mdg/basics.shtml)

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons, computer sessions on data sources. Students' elaborations are scheduled.

Assessment methods

Oral examination, including students' work.

Teaching tools

pc, videoprojector, overhead projector, computer lab.

Office hours

See the website of Aurora Angeli