DEMOGRAPHY AND ITALIAN SOCIETY

Aims of the course are: To provide knowledge on the basic concepts of demography and an analytical toolbox on the quantitative analysis in demography To deepen the knowledge on the Italian population development with special emphasis on territorial differences and temporal discontinuities To investigate the interrelation between demographic change and social change and identifying the forces behind them

Knowledge of basic statistical concepts is advisable

Knowledge and understanding: At the end of the course, students will be able: -to understand the main theorical and analytical tools of demography; -to recognize the main stages of the Italian demographic transition; -to link the Italian population development in the European context and understand in depth the interconnections between the demographic change and the socioeconomic and cultural change in a cross-country comparative view. Applying knowledge and understanding: At the end of the course, students will be able: - to read, interpret and engage in a discussion about demographic phenomena and the interrelation between them and the socioeconomic and cultural change; - to search for, find out, and use adequately the demographic official data sources; - to read, interpret and critically discuss intermediate-level scientific articles on population fields; - to read, interpret and critically discuss scientific reports on population policy issues; to conceive, design and develop a research project on population related topics. Making judgements: At the end of the course, student will be able: - to integrate the knowledge acquired; - to analyze and understand the complexity of the demographic phenomena; - to identify the main demographic challenges and the most suitable responses through the integrated use of theoretical frameworks, empirical data and empirical findings. - to make judgements on the different demographic challenges of the Italian population in the European context; - to assess the appropriateness of policy responses to demographic challenges. Communication skills: At the end of the course, students will be able - to convey and communicate in a clear and persuasive manner the contents of the course thanks to a method of synthesis and expression practiced in the course; - to communicate the contents of the course and the related implications by arguing and motivating in an open and critical manner. Learning skills: Students are expected to disentangle the demographic forces behind the social, economic and cultural change. In particular, they are expected: - to elaborate arguments in the format of an open debate organized across opposite views, which are based on selected readings; to write reports, papers and deliverables by the assigned deadline; - to carry out demographic research by reading specialized journals, searching for appropriate data sources and using retrieved data in a critical manner; - to organize and manage their work (also in a group) with a spirit of initiative and in a peers’ collaborative setting, by sharing resources, managing the time, taking responsibility, innovating in problem solution, keeping flexibility, adjusting to changes and with a negotiating capacity.

- Basic demographic methods; - Toolbox of a demographer needed to measure and interpret population change and interrelated changes; - Causes and consequences of population change in Italy, in the European ang global context. - Overview of policy responses to the major challenges of the demographic change.

Textbooks: 1.De Rose A., Rosina A. (2022). Introduzione alla demografia. Egea Editore. 2. Livi Bacci, M. (1998). Storia minima della popolazione del mondo. Il Mulino. Additional reading (books, journal articles, and statistical reports) will be indicated on the Moodle (Luiss Learn).

Frontal lectures and open debates in the class are envisaged in the teaching course. Moreover, discussions and debates are planned on selected demographic topics. Discussions and debates will be prepared with readings of articles published in well-known demographic journals. The instructor will use some of the new teaching learning methodologies like: Inquiry based learning; Problem based learning; Peer education; Flipped classroom.

The assessment of students will take place as follows: 1. Active participation to the course, assessed with participation to forum, debates and exercises, weight on the final grade 15%; 2. Midterm test: 30 multiple choice questions, weight on the final grade15%; 3 Book review (choice restricted to a few books), weight on the final grade 20%, 4. Research project on a topic treated in class which is preparatory to the final essay, weight on the final grade 10%; 5. Essay on a demographic topic among those addressed in the course, weight on the final grade 40%. To assess the level of preparation of the student, the following evaluation criteria will be taken into account: knowledge and understanding of the notions of demography and ability to apply them to concrete cases (65%); ability to communicate acquired skills clearly and with appropriate language; ability to critically consult demographic sources and scientific literature (35%). The final grade is a weighted average of the scores of the above mentioned tests.

Interest for the discipline; active participation to the classes; quality of the proposed topic

Yes