AØKA08197U Demography

Volume 2017/2018
Education

MSc programme in Economics – elective course

Bacheloruddannelsen i økonomi – valgfag på 3. år

The Danish BSc programme in Economics - elective at the 3rd year

Content

The course will cover the following topics:

Fertility:

  • Measures of fertility.

  • Economic/social determinants of fertility.

Mortality:

  • Measures of mortality.

  • How to construct life tables.

  • Economic/social determinants of mortality.

Demographic Transitions:

  • Macro and microeconomic causes and consequences.

Migration:

  • Measures of migration.

  • Economic/social determinants and consequences of migration.

 

Overall, the course focuses on developing basic demography methods related to the measurement of vital events. These methods are then applied to study empirically (and theoretically) how demographic and economic changes interact with each other over time.    

Learning Outcome

The course is an introductory course in demography. The course focuses on

1) developing skills so to measure basic vital events;

2) providing knowledge about fundamental demographic processes experienced by countries throughout the world during the last two centuries;

3) analysing the interaction between demographic and economic changes in the process of economic development.

After completing the course, the student should be able to:

Knowledge:

  • Describe fundamental demographic changes experienced by countries during the last two centuries.

  • Explain different economic theories of the Demographic Transition.

  • Explain empirical models used to identify causes/​consequences  of changes in, e.g., fertility, mortality, and migration.

  • Discuss basic findings in the economic-demography literature with a focus on key demographic variables: fertility, mortality, and migration.

Skills:

  • Constructs relevant measures of fertility, mortality, and migration using population census data and vital-statistics data.  

  • Analyze how basic demographic variables 1) influence economic variables, such as human capital and income; and 2) are being influenced by economic conditions, including public infrastructures (e.g., clean-water supply, sewerage infrastructure, or information provision).

Competencies:

  • Construct datasets which can be used to study basic demographic issues. 

  • Combine theory and empirical knowledge to formulate research designs with the purpose of identifying causes/consequences of demographic changes.  

 

Selected chapters in “Demographic methods” by Andrew Hinde, Arnold. 
The literature will additionally be based on various journal articles, focusing on the economic causes/consequences of demographic changes in societies.

 

Knowledge corresponding to the 2nd year on the BSc in Economics.
Related to the lectures, there will also be in-class presentations of journal articles by the students, and various exercises, which should be prepared before class, are discussed.
Schedule:
2 hours lectures 1 to 2 times a week from week 36 to 50 (except week 42).

The overall schema for the BA 3rd year can be seen at https:/​/​intranet.ku.dk/​polit_ba/​undervisning/​Lektionsplan-E17/​skemaer/​Sider/​default.aspx
or the Master at https:/​/​intranet.ku.dk/​polit_ka/​undervisning/​Lektionsplan-E17/​skemaer/​Sider/​default.aspx

Timetable and venue:
To see the time and location of lectures please press the link under "Se skema" (See schedule) at the right side of this page. E means Autumn.

You can find the similar information partly in English at
https:/​​/​​skema.ku.dk/​​ku1718/​​uk/​​module.htm
-Select Department: “2200-Økonomisk Institut” (and wait for respond)
-Select Module:: “2200-E17; [Name of course]””
-Select Report Type: “List – Weekdays”
-Select Period: “Efterår/Autumn – Weeks 31-5”
Press: “ View Timetable”
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 42
  • Preparation
  • 134
  • Project work
  • 30
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment, 3 weeks
The exam is an individual project. The students has to choose a topic within demography and find suitable data for their project. The outline of the project has to be approved by the lecturer. The project can be written in English or in Danish. Language must be chosen at the course or exam registration.
Exam registration requirements

The student are required to present one journal article in class before they can sit the exam. The presentation has to been approved before the students can participate in the exam.

Aid
All aids allowed
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
if chosen by the Head of Studies.
Exam period

for the autumn semester 2017:

Deadline Project description handed in to lecturer: 4 December 2017 10 AM

Deadline Project uploaded in DE: 8 January 2018 10 AM

For enrolled students more information about examination, rules, exam schedule etc. is available at the intranet for master students (UK) , master students (DK) and bachelor students (DK).

Re-exam

for the autumn semester 2017:

Deadline new project description to samf-fak@samf.ku.dk : 5 February 2018 at 10 AM

Deadline of the new project is 23 February 2018 at 10 AM

If only a few students have registered the reexam it might change to oral including the date, time and place, which will be informed in KUNet or by the Examination Office.

More information about reexamination, rules, schedule etc. is available at the intranet for master students (UK) , master students (DK) and bachelor students (DK).

 

Criteria for exam assesment

Students are assessed on the extent to which they master the learning outcome for the course.

To receive the top grade, the student must be able to demonstrate in an excellent manner that he or she has acquired and can make use of the knowledge, skills and competencies listed in the learning outcomes.