The course provides the basic concepts and tools for the analysis of the demographic structure of populations and their behaviours: social and demographic sources of data, measure of mortality, fertility, nuptiality, migration; population growth issues, population projection.
Concepts and measures will be verified using real data and examples obtained from the administrative and survey data sources.
Introduzione alla demografia. Analisi e interpretazione delle dinamiche di popolazione
di A. Rosina e A. De Rose, Egea, 2022
Other books on Demography are nevertheless allowed.
Other lectures will be indicated during the course.
Learning Objectives
a) understand demographic dynamics (interplay of stock and flow data);
b) know where to retrieve demographic information
c) be capable of calculating autonomously the main demographic indicators, cross-sectionally and longitudinally, given the proper raw numbers
d) understand demographic problems; envisage possible solutions.
Prerequisites
Know how 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
For update and further information, please check the Moodle page of the course.
The exam consists of both a written and an oral test (which have the same weight in the final evaluation). The written part (duration 1 h 30’) includes 5 exercises, each one with a score of 6. The oral part consists in the discussion of the written exam and of the part of the course related to the challenges of population dynamics.
Course program
Introduction: main concepts, purposes, and tools; time, age and events; generation, cohorts and contemporaries. Socio-demographic sources of data.
Dimension and structure of the population: stocks and flows, population equation, indices of structure, age pyramids, link between dynamic and structure. Growth population rate. Raw and specific rates, standardization.
Demographic flows: mortality (Lexis diagram, probability and rates, mortality table); nuptiality and divorce (definitions and measures); fertility (generic and specific rates, reproduction, substitution level); migration (sources and measures; cause and consequences of the migration process).
Basis of population projections.
An overview of the population history and of trend caracterizing contemporary populations (with a specific focus on the Italian one).