OVERVIEW

The course introduces the fundamental concepts of population studies, with particular attention to the implications of global demographic change on sustainable development.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to direct students towards the understanding and knowledge of socio-demographic contexts through the study of elements of demography and social statistics.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The primary goal of the course is to provide students with an overview of the major demographic processes currently underway worldwide, with a particular focus on sustainable development. The expected learning outcomes are as follows:

• Knowledge and understanding Acquisition of adequate knowledge of the fundamental tools of demographic analysis and the ability to interpret ongoing demographic changes.
• Ability to apply knowledge and understanding Development of the ability to select appropriate demographic indicators for application in other fields such as economics, sociology, political science, and beyond.
• Autonomy of judgement Ability to evaluate the quality of online data sources, particularly to assess whether their collection and analysis meet the quality standards typical of official statistics, and to critically assess the methodological soundness of materials and reports found online.
• Communication skills Acquisition of the fundamental statistical vocabulary necessary to communicate clearly and unambiguously with both specialist and non-specialist audiences.
• Learning skills The knowledge and skills acquired will enable students to pursue further studies on the implications of demographic change in their specific areas of interest.

PREREQUISITES

None.

TEACHING METHODS

Face-to-face lectures in the classroom.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Part 1 – Introduction to Demography

• Introduction to demography: goals and definitions
• Time, age, and generations:
  • Individuals and life histories
  • Time and duration. The Lexis diagram
  • Cohort histories and population status
  • Generations and contemporaries. Longitudinal and cross-sectional observation
• Analytical tools: events, rates and probabilities, intensity and timing
• Renewal processes: generational extinction
  • Mortality and survival
  • Life tables
  • Measures of longevity
  • Renewal processes: formation of new generations
  • Factors of human reproduction
  • Cohort fertility measures: intensity, timing, and offspring composition
  • Period fertility measures: cross-sectional and cohort-based analysis
  • Reproductivity and replacement levels
• Population size and structure
  • Age and sex composition: population pyramids
  • Indicators of demographic structure
• Demographic dynamics and long-term perspectives
  • Population status and variation
  • Demographic balance and its components
  • Population change and its pace
• The demographic transition
  • The Neolithic revolution and the traditional demographic regime
  • Phases of the demographic transition
  • Health transition
  • Reproductive transition
  • Transition to what?

Part 2 – World Population and Sustainable Development

• Population growth and economic development
• Europe: population ageing and the need for social policies
• The post-Soviet states: diverging demographic trends
• Cultural exchange, conflicts, and demography in the southeastern Mediterranean countries
• China and India: two demographic giants, so similar and yet so different
• Latin America: a socially and demographically heterogeneous continent
• Africa: North, Central, and South as examples of different stages of demographic transition
• Unresolved issues

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

For Part 1 of the program:

• Alessandro Rosina, Alessandra De Rose (2026) Introduzione alla Demografia 2a Ed. EGEA

For Part 2 of the program:

• Aurora Angeli, Silvana Salvini (2018), Popolazione mondiale e sviluppo sostenibile. Crescita, stagnazione e declino, Il Mulino, Bologna

• Massimo Livi Bacci (2015), Il pianeta stretto, Il Mulino, Bologna.

Given the relevance of the topic, various supplementary readings will be posted on Aulaweb during the course.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

ENRICO DI BELLA (President)

SARA PRETI (President Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

1st semester

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam includes a written part on Part 1 of the syllabus with open-ended questions and exercises, and an oral part focusing on the themes covered in Part 2.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The written exam assesses the knowledge acquired on the fundamental topics of demographic analysis and the interpretation of key demographic data.
The oral exam evaluates the student's ability to discuss the complexity of demographic phenomena using appropriate technical language, based on the lecture materials and required readings.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students with disabilities or other special educational needs are advised to contact both the Prof. Aristide Canepa (aristide.canepa@unige.it), and the lecturer at the beginning of the course, to agree on the teaching methods and examinations that, in compliance with the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning methods and provide suitable compensatory tools.

To request compensatory tools or dispensatory measures, students with disabilities or SLD must fill in the dedicated Webform available at https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa, at least 7 working days before the exam.
Students with SEN may instead send their request by e-mail to the lecturer, copying the Department Representative, Prof. Aristide Canepa (aristide.canepa@unige.it) and the Inclusion Office (inclusione.studenti@info.unige.it).

Requests from students will be assessed by the lecturer and may be approved or rejected.