Insegnamento a.a. 2019-2020

20615 - POPULATION DYNAMICS AND POLICIES

Department of Social and Political Sciences

Course taught in English
Go to class group/s: 24
PPA (6 credits - II sem. - OB  |  SPS/07)
Course Director:
FRANCESCO CANDELORO BILLARI

Classes: 24 (II sem.)
Instructors:
Class 24: FRANCESCO CANDELORO BILLARI


Suggested background knowledge

There are no specific prerequisites, although a background in empirical quantitative methods (as from the Quantitative Methods for Policy Analysis course of the PPA MSc) is useful for a successful learning experience in the Population Dynamics and Policies course.

Mission & Content Summary

MISSION

Population change is one of the great megatrends of our era. Low fertility and population ageing have emerged in developed countries, while high fertility, high population growth and health threats, largely intertwined with poverty, continue to affect population dynamics and economic development in developing countries. Migration connects the South to the North of the world both between and within in important ways. These demographic developments call for policy responses and affect politics and the way policies are formulated. This course aims to provide students with key evidence on population dynamics and its interaction with policies, as well with the standard toolkit of demography.

CONTENT SUMMARY

The course is organized in five interlocked themes:

  1. Population structure, demographic processes, policies, social dynamics and economics.
  2. Survival and health.
  3. Family and fertility.
  4. Migration and population movements.
  5. Analysis of population-related policies.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO)

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

At the end of the course student will be able to...
  • Be familiar with evidence on past and current population change in a comparative perspective.
  • Be familiar with demographic approaches to the study of survival and health, family and fertility, and migration.
  • Be familiar with demographic scenarios.
  • Have an understanding of the interaction between the components of population change and policies.

APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

At the end of the course student will be able to...
  • Read, discuss and criticize population-related policy reports.
  • Read, discuss and criticize population-related intermediate-level scientific articles.
  • Access official population data.
  • Have an introductory insight on how to start a new research project on population issues.

Teaching methods

  • Face-to-face lectures

DETAILS

   


Assessment methods

  Continuous assessment Partial exams General exam
  • Written individual exam (traditional/online)
   x x

ATTENDING AND NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

There are two options, both with a written exam. The written exam consists of:

  • 1st partial (covering the materials discussed in the first half of the course) and a 2nd partial (covering the materials discussed in the second half of the course), each weighing 50%. Or of
  • A general exam, weighing 100%.

Exams: written exams include essay-style questions. Exams cover all the topics of the course. Material covered in the lectures, in the textbook and other set readings may be included in the exam.


Teaching materials


ATTENDING AND NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

  • Readings are  listed in the detailed syllabus of the courses.
  • All course materials, including slides and readings, are posted on Bboard in advance of each lecture. A set of non-compulsory additional readings also are distributed.
Last change 28/06/2019 09:42