19523 - Demography of Developing Countries

Learning outcomes

The course aims to analyse the main problems and dynamics that are linked to the population evolutions in developing countries. It is known that these countries continue to experiment very high growth rates. We will examine both the main evolution theories that explain demographic transition (in term of fertility and mortality trends) and the most known methodological tools to analyse population data deriving from demographic and social surveys.

Course contents

a) Methodological tools and sources for the analysis and measurements of population variables (growth rates, mortality, fertility migration); estimates methods with lacking statistics; retrospective analysis; census-type data analysis;

b) Economic development and population: 1) Is the growth of population a restrain or a driving of development? 2. Population and poverty. 3) Intergenerational links and transferts; 4. Woman role and development;

c) Demographic transitions: 1. The growth of popolation in PVS after the second world war; 2 Mortality and fertility declines; 3. Spread of contraceptive methods and planning population programs; 4. International migrations; 5. The effect of HIV syndrome on populations.

Readings/Bibliography

1) G.C. Blangiardo, Elementi di demografia, Il Mulino, Bologna, 1997 (I,II,III capp.).

2) J.E. Coen, Quante persone possono vivere sulla terra?, Il Mulino, Bologna, 1998, seconda parte.

Make a choice among:

A) M. Livi Bacci, Storia minima della popolazione del mondo, Il Mulino, Bologna, new edition 2006

B) O, Bussini, Politiche di popolazione e migrazioni, Morlacchi editore, Perugia, 2006

C) A. Angeli, S. Salvini, Popolazione e sviluppo nelle regioni del mondo. Convergenze e divergenze nei comportamenti demografici, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2008.

D) A. Golini (a cura di), Il futuro della popolazione nel mondo, Collana "Prismi", Il Mulino, Bologna, 2009

E) G. dalla Zuanna, P. Farina, S. Strozza, Nuovi Italiani. I giovani immigrati cambieranno il nostro paese?, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2009

 

Assessment methods

written and oral  exam

Office hours

See the website of Rosella Rettaroli