The Chinese case: fertility and migration in the Chinese demographic policy. Causes, consequences, evolution and prospects.
History and evolution of the world population under the increasing constraints of limited space and available resources. How to reconcile individual freedom (e.g. to have as many children as one likes) with collective needs (e.g., avoid overpopulation).
1) One-child policy (mimeo, in Moodle)
(A/N Copied from Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One-child_policy, which is worth looking at because it contains a dynamic pyramid of the Chinese population. Do NOT use the Italian version, which is too short and insufficient)
2) WANG Feng, CAI Yong, SHEN Ke, GIETEL-BASTEN Stuart (2018) Is Demography Just a Numerical Exercise? Numbers, Politics, and Legacies of China’s One-Child Policy. Demography 55(2): 693-719 (shortened version available in Moodle)
3) QIN Yu, WANG Fei (January 3, 2018) 30 years of experience of the two-child policy in Yicheng, China, N-IUSSP,
http://www.niussp.org/article/30-years-of-experience-of-the-two-child-policy/#more-2353
(available in Moodle)
4) Massimo Livi Bacci (2012) A Short History of Migration, Polity Press
5) Massimo Livi Bacci (2017) Our Shrinking Planet, John Wiley and Sons Ltd
6) Extra reading material will be indicated in class and, if possible, made available on Moodle
Obiettivi Formativi
This year’s focus is on two themes: the One-Child Policy in China (history, causes and consequences) and the past and likely future evolution of world population, with special emphasis on migration. In both cases, during the course students will:
1) understand how populations evolve (dynamics and time scale) and the complexity of their connections with society at large;
2) learn how to consider simultaneously the various sides of the matter when contrasting interests are at play (e.g. individual freedom of reproduction vs. risk of overpopulation);
3) acquire knowledge of: a) basic demographic mechanisms (with their proper time scale); b) what has happened to world population, globally and by region, and why; c) available sources, their potentialities and their limitations;
4) be capable of autonomous search for the relevant sources regarding population issues;
5) develop a critical approach to population issues, with a special emphasis on the necessity of going beyond averages and considering also heterogeneity (i.e., differences within a population);
6) be capable to interpret critically (and produce) statistical tables, graphs and simple regression analyses; to speak in public; to consider contentious matters from various angles; to look at population issues separating facts from opinions, and using the appropriate time scale.
Prerequisiti
Know how to read and interpret simple tables and graphs.
Metodi Didattici
Lectures, seminars, and debates on contentious issues, where students will be asked to prepare PPT presentations to defend certain theses, or dispute them.
Altre Informazioni
Additional teaching material to be found on Moodle (https://e-l.unifi.it/). Students with special needs may contact the teacher.
Modalità di verifica apprendimento
Actively attending students: special emphasis will be given to their capacity of understanding and debating contentious issues, considering matters from all sides. Presentations and debates will be organized in class, which may be enough for the evaluation of students who will actively participate in a sufficient number of them.
Other students: if possible (due to pandemic-related constraints) written examination, with open questions, on both theoretical issues and practical problems. Variations are possible (and in this case students will be timely informed), but the standard practice is as follows: 12 open-ended questions to be answered in 90 minutes; each correct answer grants 3 grades (max=36 grades overall). No books or external text can be consulted (except those given at the moment of the examination); (own) calculators may be used. Additional oral examination possible in special cases, to be decided by the teacher.
Programma del corso
Module 1
1.a) Summary of some basic demographic concepts, with particular focus on fertility and migration. Study of demographic dynamics (growth rates) and structural population changes (aging).
1.b) A brief demographic history of China, 1950 to today.
1.c) The Chinese One-Child demographic policy: when it was adopted, why, and what it produced in practice. How to solve the conflict between individual desires and collective needs?
1.d) After the one-child policy: the current demographic situation in China and the prospects for its future.
Module 2
2.a) A concise history of world demography: phases of historical evolution, by region, with a special focus on resources and migration.
2.b) The risks of the current world demographic situation (by region, and in a historical perspective): from overcrowding (and resource depletion) to depopulation and ageing.
2.c) Migration: a concise history of the phenomenon, its causes and consequences.
2.d) The contentious side of migration: opportunities and threats; amounts (flows and structures), age structure, receiving vs. sending countries, differential aspects.