Unit DEMOGRAPHY

Course
Political sciences and international relations
Study-unit Code
GP003825
Curriculum
Relazioni internazionali
Teacher
Donatella Lanari
Teachers
  • Donatella Lanari
Hours
  • 63 ore - Donatella Lanari
CFU
9
Course Regulation
Coorte 2019
Offered
2021/22
Learning activities
Affine/integrativa
Area
Attività formative affini o integrative
Academic discipline
SECS-S/04
Type of study-unit
Opzionale (Optional)
Type of learning activities
Attività formativa monodisciplinare
Language of instruction
Italian language.
International and Erasmus students are invited to attend lectures. References are available also in English. Examination for foreign students is either in Italian or English language.
Contents
Sources of data. Structural characteristics and dynamics of populations. Lexis scheme and life tables. Analysis of nuptiality, fertility. Mobility and migrations. Demographic forecasts. Demographic transition of developed and developing countries. Low fertility and ageing in Italy. World population growth. International migrations.
Reference texts
2006.C. BLANGIARDO, Elementi di Demografia, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2006

or

2010. DE SANTIS, Demografia, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2010,

In addition some lectures notes will be available on-line
Educational objectives
The course aims at providing the necessary tools to analyse the main structural characteristics and dynamics of human populations and the differences in demographic behavior between developed and developing countries.

By the end of the course, students will acquire a good knowledge of the issues covered and will be able to use the main tools for the measurement and analysis of demographic processes to solve basic demographic exercises and interpret the results.
Prerequisites
None.
Teaching methods
Theoretical lectures and practical training by using Istat database and international datasets.

If the pandemic crisis will continue, the teaching will be both on-line and with face-to-face lectures.
Learning verification modality
The exam includes a written test and an oral exam. The written test consists in solving 4-5 exercises of demographic analysis. The written test, which lasts two hours, is intended to verify the student’s ability to understand the issues proposed and to correctly apply the theoretical knowledge. In addition, the oral exam consists of a discussion of no longer than 20 minutes aimed at assessing the knowledge of the theoretical and methodological issues of the course.

If the pandemic crisis will continue examinations will be on-line.
Extended program
Basic concepts and methodology of demography. Demographic surveys: Italian and international surveys for population’s studies. The measures of variation and structural characteristics of populations. Demographics trends: frequency and intensity measures of demographic phenomena. The Lexis diagram and the life tables. Analysis of nuptiality. Transition to adulthood. Fertility: factors influencing fertility, total fertility rate. Migration. Population forecasts.

During the course some thematic insights will be offered: general outline of the earth population development. The theoretical framework of demographic transition in developed and less developed countries. Low fertility and population aging in Italy: causes and consequences. The demographic mechanisms of the developing countries in the twentieth century. Consequences of the expected growth of the world population. International migrations. Climate change and migration flows.
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