Course 2020-2021 a.y.

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 mega-trends of our era. Low fertility and population ageing have emerged in developed countries, while high fertility and fast population growth, largely intertwined with poverty, continue to affect population dynamics and economic development in low-income countries. Health threats are widespread, and the COVID-19 pandemics has exposed the vulnerability of middle- and high-income 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 tools to understand population dynamics, key evidence on population change and its interaction with policies, through 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.
  • Have an understanding of the interaction between the components of population change and policies
  • Be familiar with demographic approaches to the study of survival and health, family and fertility, and migration.
  • Be familiar with demographic scenarios.

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.
  • Craft a policy report on population issues.

Teaching methods

  • Face-to-face lectures
  • Online lectures
  • Group assignments

DETAILS

The mix between face-to-face and online lectures will be determined by university policies. In any case lectures will be available online.


Assessment methods

  Continuous assessment Partial exams General exam
  • Written individual exam (traditional/online)
   x x
  • Group assignment (report, exercise, presentation, project work etc.)
   x  

ATTENDING STUDENTS

Attending students can choose between two assessment methods.

 

1) Population report on the first part (groups of two students) and partial mid-term exam only on the second part. Weight: 60% for the highest mark and 40% for the lowest mark.

 

or

 

2) Two mid-term partial exams (weight: 50% each), or general exam. 


NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

Two mid-term partial exams (weight: 50% each), or general 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.
  • Guidelines for the population report are distributed.
Last change 14/12/2020 16:14