LFU:online

Population economics (or demographic economics) is the application of economic analysis to demography. It aims to theoretically model and to empirical predict variation in population, and is as such interested in outcomes such births, marriage, divorce, mortality, morbidity and migration. Many major political challenges result from demographic changes. For instance, the pensions systems in many high-income suffer under a declining ratio of economically active individuals per retiree. This trend is caused by declining birth rates and increasing longevity. Or, some middle-income countries (such as China) have to cope with an excess supply of men, which results from a cultural preference for sons and the wide availability prenatal sex-determination technology. In the lecture (=VO), we explore the ideas and methods economists use to understand population dynamics. This will aid our understanding of topics such as the formation and dissolution of families and migration.

The focus of these courses is on understanding the fundamental models of population economics keeping also close contact to empirical trends and research. In addition, we study the role of public policy in affecting demographic trends. We will cover the history of population, theories of the demographic transition; population aging and population decline; Malthus and population debate; economic theories of family formation and dissolution (i.e., marriage, fertility, divorce); Health, Morbidity, and Mortality; Immigration

Lecture, discussions and assignments. 

A final exam will be given in the last meeting.

There is no single textbook this course follows. We will use a variety of journal articles. A detailed reading list will be provided in the first meeting. For each topic additional material (such as presentation slides) may be posted on the courses' website.