Basic, introductory course of demography and population studies. Sources and methods are examined in connection with substantive issues. Specific attention is devoted to the study of the world population (past, present and future) and to its connection with economic growth. Limits to population growth are also discussed.
1) G. De Santis (2010) Demografia, Il Mulino, Bologna.
2) A. Angeli e S. Salvini (2018) Popolazione mondiale e sviluppo sostenibile
3) Other lectures will be distributed through Moodle or in class
Learning Objectives
a) to understand demographic dynamics (interplay of stock and flow data);
b) to know where to retrieve demographic information
c) to be capable to compute autonomously the main demographic indicators, cross-sectionally and longitudinally, given the proper raw numbers
d) to understand demographic problems; envisage possible solutions.
Prerequisites
To be able to read and interpret simple tables and graphs.
Teaching Methods
Lectures, practice exercises.
Further information
For additional teaching material and a few examples of examination tests
see the Moodle page of the course
Type of Assessment
to be defined
Course program
Definition of demography: its purpose, methods, sources and data.
Description of stocks, flows and demographic phenomena (mortality, couple formation and dissolution, fertility, migration).
Social and demographic sources of data.
Simple population models (e.g. Stationary population), and population projections with variants.
Overview of the demographic trends and situation of the world, in the past and today.