International migration: definition, sources, characteristics, effects, levels and trends. The case of Italy. Integration of and attitudes towards foreigners: measures and interpretations.
Pension systems: typology, characteristics and the influence of the structure of the population, with special focus on developed countries. How to make a pay-as-you-go pension system (almost) immune from demographic (ageing) and economic variations.
1) Lemaitre G. (2005) “The Comparability of International Migration Statistics. Problems and Prospects”, OECD Statistics Brief, OECD: https://www.oecd.org/migration/49215740.pdf
2) Di Bartolomeo A. (2016) “Le migrazioni internazionali”, mimeo, downloadable from http://local.disia.unifi.it/desantis/didattica/popolazione_societa/
3) Coleman D. (2008), The demographic effects of international migration in Europe, Oxford Review of Economic Policy, 24 (3):452–476. https://core.ac.uk/download/files/88/228074.pdf
4) Savelkoul M., Scheepers P., Tolsma J. and Hagendoorn L. (2011) Anti-Muslim attitudes in The Netherlands: tests of contradictory hypotheses derived from ethnic competition theory and intergroup contact theory, Eur Sociol Rev 27 (6): 741-758. doi: 10.1093/esr/jcq035
First published online: July 25, 2010 (downloadable via LinkedIn o from
http://local.disia.unifi.it/desantis/didattica/popolazione_societa/)
5) G. De Santis (2006) Previdenza: a ciascuno il suo?, Bologna, Il Mulino.
Learning Objectives
a) Understand how populations evolve (dynamics and time scales) and how complex their connections with society at large can be. The focus is on two cases: international migration and pension systems;
b) Be capable of considering simultaneously the various sides of the matter when contrasting interests are at play.
c) Know how to communicate demographic concepts - both simple and complex ones.
Prerequisites
Know how to read and interpret simple tables and graphs.
Teaching Methods
Lectures, seminars
Further information
For additional teaching material and a few examples of examination tests
visit the website http://local.disia.unifi.it/desantis
Type of Assessment
Written examination only, with open questions, on both theoretical issues and practical problems. Same for all students, including those who did not attend classes.
Course program
Module 1
1.a) International migration: stocks and flows, trends, causes and demographic consequences, possible evolution. The case of Italy.
1.b) Migration: sources of data; limits, use, and possible improvements.
1.c.) The integration of foreigners: data sources, their use and the interpretation of the results
1.d) Attitudes towards foreigners: economic and cultural interpretations of how they form and evolve over time.
Module 2
2.a) Basic demographic concepts - especially the life table (refresher).
2.b) Pensions systems and their demographic, economic and cultural basis. Main and ancillary objectives of modern pension systems. How to set them up and to protect them from economic, demographic and policy variations.