DEMOGRAPHY AND ITALIAN SOCIETY

Aims of the course are: To provide knowledge on the basic concepts of demography and to equip the students with a basic analytical toolbox useful for 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: On successfully completing the course, students will be able to: 1. understand the main theorical and analytical tools of demography; 2. recognize the main stages of the Italian demographic transition and the driving forces behind it; 3. Understand in depth the relationship between population and socioeconomic development in Italy in the European context. Applying knowledge and understanding: On successfully completing 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 as well as the social and the cultural change; - to search 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: On successfully completing the course, student will be able: - to integrate the knowledge acquired; - to understand the demographic phenomena; - to identify the demographic challenges and the responses through 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 (mandatory): 1. Blangiardo, G. Elementi di demografia (2006). Il Mulino. 2. Livi Bacci, M. Storia minima della popolazione del mondo (1998). Il Mulino. Additional reading (books, journal articles, and statistical reports) indicated on Moodle.

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 those students regularly attending the course will take place as follows: 1. book review, individual work (30%) 2. presentation, group work (30%) 3. oral exam, individual (30%) 4. partecipazione attiva (10%) For students regularly attending the course (no more than 3 absences during the whole length of the course), the final grade is computed as weighted average of the scores achieved at all the assessments mentioned above. For no attending students (more than 3 absences during the course), the exam will be based on a written exam (essay) on a topic assigned by the professor the day of the exam and an oral conversation on the program developed during the course. Students who are not able (for whatever reason) to regularly attend the lessons, are strongly encouraged to contact the professor at the beginning of the course. For no reason students who cannot ensure a regular attendance to the lessons can take part in the four assessment steps envisaged for attending students.

Interest for the discipline. Quality of the research topic. Grade achieved at the exam.