Demography

obligatory courses

The aim of the course is to familiarize students with contemporary population phenomena in their socio-economic context, and also the analysis of interdependence of demographic and economic phenomena on a global, regional and local level. The emphasis will be put on contemporary and future population processes in Poland and Europe. A measurable effect of learning is ability to search for, interpret and present statistical data, knowledge of the main indexes and demographic methods, and ability to write dissertation. Classes combine a form of a lecture and discussion, therein computer workshops. The course is dedicated to students in the first years of economics. In order to pass the course, it is required to participate in classes, prepare a dissertation (about 3000 words), hand over home assignments and pass the final exam.

The aim of the course is to familiarize students with contemporary population phenomena in their socio-economic context, and also the analysis of interdependence of demographic and economic phenomena on a global, regional and local level. The emphasis will be put on contemporary and future population processes in Poland and Europe. A measurable effect of learning is ability to search for, interpretat and present statistical data, knowledge of the main indexes and demographic methods, and ability to write dissertation.

A detailed outline of topics:

- Demographic change from historical perspective. Have people always lived that long and had so little children as nowadays in Poland (if not, why)? World’s population from Neolithic revolution till present days. What do we learn from main population doctrines – from ancient concepts, through Malthusian theory, to modern concepts.

- Diversification of demographic situation on interregional, international and intercivilization scale. Level, indexes and geographic/civilization dimension of this diversification.

- Importance of demographic processes and structures for an economist – a microeconomic, macroeconomic, sociologic and geographic look. Society ageing and functioning of the economy (a concept of a demographic bias).

- Economic approach to population problems: immigration and relative deprivation, economic dimension of altruism, Gary Becker’s theory of marriage and fertility, ‘brain drain’ and ‘brain gain’ in international migration theories.

- Population processes on Polish lands and in Poland in the XX and in the beginning of the XXI century. Main processes: population reproduction, demographic transition, health crisis 1965-1990, ‘invisible migrations’, second demographic transition, after-accession migration of Poles. Main transitions in domains of fertility, marriage, family creation, health and mortality in Poland.

- Family policy in Poland and other European countries – a comparison. About whether the state should support functioning of families and about effectiveness of different instruments of family policy.

- Determinants of families creation in light of theoretical concepts (theory of Becker, Leibenstein, Easterlin). Contemporary transformations in domain of family creation in light of concepts of the second demographic transition.

- Epidemics of the XXI century: HIV in Poland and in the world. Scale and specifics of HIV epidemics in different regions of the world. A case of Poland.

- Determinants of international migrations in light of theoretical concepts. Newest migrations from Poland and to Poland. Main trends in international mobility of Poles before and after the European Union enlargement. Recent inflow of immigrants to Poland.

- Society ageing and immigration. Whether immigration of young people can be a remedy for society ageing?

- Demographic future of the world, Europe and Poland. Assumptions and estimates results of UN, Eurostat and CSO.

- Sources of data in demography and methods of population studies. Basic demographic concepts and measures. A rule for building period and cohort rates. The Lexis diagram, period and cohort analysis. Life table and life expectancy.

- Rules of writing a dissertation, searching for the literature and critical review of the references; a research question and hypothesis, operationalization of research hypothesis.

Required readings:

Okólski M., Demografia. Podstawowe pojęcia, procesy i teorie w encyklopedycznym zarysie, Scholar, Warsaw 2004; 2005; 2006.

Holzer J.Z., Demografia, Państwowe Wydawnictwo Ekonomiczne, Warsaw, various years.

Recommended readings:

Balcerzak-Paradowska B., Rodzina i polityka rodzinna, IpiSS, Warsaw 2004.

Balicki J., Frątczak E., Nam Ch., Przemiany ludnościowe: fakty, interpretacje, opinie, Uniwersytet S.Wyszyńskiego, Warsaw 2003.

Caselli G., Vallin J., Wunsch G., Demography. Analysis and synthesis, vol. 1-4, Elsevier Inc 2006, chosen chapters.

Fihel A., Kaczmarczyk P., Okólski M., Migracje „nowych Europejczyków” – teraz i przedtem, Uniwersytet Warszawski, Warsaw 2007.

Gawryszewski A., Ludność Polski w XX wieku, IgiPZ PAN, Warsaw 2005.

Kaczmarczyk P., Łukowski W. (red.), Polscy pracownicy na rynku UE, Scholar, 2004. Okólski M., Demografia zmiany społecznej, Scholar, Warsaw 2004.

After completing the course a student:

- has knowledge concerning the most recent population processes (population reproduction, fertility, mortality, health, international migrations) happening in the world, Europe and Poland;

- understands complexity of population processes and their connection with social and economic phenomena;

- is able to explain the most important demographic processes in contemporary Poland: society ageing, sequence of demographic busts and booms, health crisis 1965-1990, newest emigration from and immigration to Poland, signs of upcoming of the second demographic transition;

- knows the most important population theories: Malthusianism and neomalhusianism, the theory of demographic, epidemiologic, and health transition, the theory of the second demographic transition, main concepts of fertility (therein Becker’s, Leibenstein’s and Easterlin’s theory), concepts concerning international migrations (on a macro and microeconomic level);

- knows demographic prognostics and be able to tell about their assumptions and results

- has basic knowledge about demographic models in the economy: concepts of Becker concerning fertility and marriage, concepts of Oded Stark concerning migration, “brain gain” and human capital, economic sense for altruism;

- is able to find and interpret statistical data and present them to a group of people and in a dissertation;

- is able to compute basic demographic indexes and make international comparisons (using standardization of indexes);

- presents results of his own research to a group of people;

- is able to construct a concept of empirical study;

- has the ability to write a dissertation.

KW01, KW02, KW03, KU01, KU02, KU03, KU04,

During the classes there will be two home assignments given, for which a student will receive max. 20% of points composing the final grade.

The course ends with a written exam (40% of final grade) that will evaluate knowledge of demographic theories, understanding of contemporary population processes in the world, Europe and Poland, knowledge of demographic phenomena in Poland in the XX century. In order to pass the exam it is required to obtain min. 50% of points.

Apart from that, a student is obliged to write a dissertation composing of about 3000 words, in which he/she will present results of his/her research. The grade of the dissertation will account for 30% of the final grade, whereas former presentation of its concept (a draft of the dissertation) to the group – 10% of the final grade.

In order to pass the course it is necessary to pass the exam (obtain at least 50% of points) and obtain at least 50% of points composing the final grade.

Additional points can be obtained through activity on classes.

A student has right to 4 absences per 60 hours of classes. Higher absence without excuse will result in failing grade.