AØKA08197U Demography

Volume 2018/2019
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.  

 

Literature

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 6 to 200 (except hoolidays).

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. F means Spring.

You can find the similar information in English at
https:/​/​skema.ku.dk/​ku1819/​uk/​module.htm
-Select Department: “2200-Økonomisk Institut” (and wait for respond)
-Select Module:: “2200-F19; [Name of course]””
-Select Report Type: “List – Weekdays”
-Select Period: “Forår/spring – Weeks 5-30”
Press: “ View Timetable”

The overall schema for the Master courses can be seen at KUnet:
MSc in Economics => "courses and teaching" => "Planning and overview" => "Your timetable"
BA i Økonomi/KA i Økonomi => "Kurser og undervisning" => "Planlægning og overblik" => "Dit skema"
  • 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 must be written in English.
____
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
No external censorship
The exam can be selected for external assessment.
____
Exam period

Exam information:

The project description must be handed in no later than:

26 April 2019 at 10 AM in Absalon

 

The project must be handed in no later than:

24 May 2019 at 10 AM in Digital Exam

 

Note: In special cases, the dates may be changed, which will be informed.

 

Further information about the exam will be available in Digital Exam from the middle of the semester.

Information about examination, rules, exam Schedule etc.:

Master (UK), Master (DK) and Bachelor (DK).

_

Re-exam

Reexam information:

The project description must be handed in no later than:

5 August 2019 at 10 AM to samf-fak@samf.ku.dk

 

The project must be handed in no later than:

23 August 2019 at 10 AM in Digital Exam

 

Note: In special cases, the written reexam can change to another day within the reexam period. Or to an oral exam incl. date, time and place, if only a few students are registered. This will be informed by the Exam Office.

Information: Master(UK), Master(DK) and Bachelor(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 with no or only a few minor weaknesses be able to demonstrate an excellent performance displaying a high level of command of all aspects of the relevant material and can make use of the knowledge, skills and competencies listed in the learning outcomes.