Syllabus
Outline of the course schedule:
The schedule may be revised, also based on the discussions during the lectures and students’ preferences.
Lecture 1 (13 February 2023):
• Introduction, info about the course, assignments, exam
• Why demography matters: thinking about contemporary population challenges
• International migration challenges (1): Global migration – an overview
Lecture 2 (27 February 2023):
• International migration challenges (2): Migration in highly developed countries
• Global fertility: too high or too low?
Lecture 3 (13 March 2023):
• Global fertility: low and very fertility. Trends, drivers, consequences
• Do family policies affect fertility?
Lecture 4 (27 March 2023):
• Mortality and population aging
• Covid-19 pandemic: a demographic perspective
Lecture 5 (17 April 2023)
Attention!!! Lecture 17 April 2023 is cancelled, next lecture takes place 26 April 2023 16:30-18:00, lecture room Z3
• Population challenges in two Asian giants: China and India
Lecture 6 (15 May 2023):
• Future population challenges: scenarios until 2100
• Policy options and responses to population change
Annotation
The world is in the middle of momentuous population transformations that also impact economies, well-being, social policies, health and welfare system across countries. Recent news about the milestone of 8 billion people living on the planet was met with a mix of cautious celebration and worries. Whereas some countries still record rapid population growth, many face declining population, outmigration, and record low fertility rates. Long-term expansion of life expectancy coupled with declining fertility contribute to population ageing which requires wide-reaching adjustments in labour market, health care and social security systems. What are the main challenges linked with population trends in different parts of the world? How are different countries responding to these challenges? What are the likely future population changes and how can societies adjust to these changes?
This course consists of six blocs, 90 minutes each. It covers in a nutshell selected global population trends that are often seen as problematic or challenging at a national or a global scale, including low and very low fertility, high and stalling fertility, changes in family relations, international migration, population aging, population decline and distorted sex ratios at birth. Population challenges in selected countries and regions, including Europe, China, India, and the United States, will also be discussed. The goal is not to provide a detailed account of population trends, but rather to critically discuss some of the key population issues and their driving factors within a broader context of social and economic change. The course also considers different strategies and policy responses to demographic change. Students are expected to be actively involved in the seminar through discussing the themes of the seminar, reading suggested papers, and preparing am assignment.
The course is in English and will be concluded with an exam; see more details below.
Keywords: Global population change, population challenges, population and development, fertility, mortality, migration, population decline, population policies, population projections, Europe, China