- Population Economics

Catalog description

The world is rapidly and constantly changing due to population dynamics. Therefore, it is essential to study the economic causes, consequences and implications of population change. Broadly, this course will investigate the economics of family formation, demographic change, and human migration. The course uses the tools of economics to investigate the socio-economic causes, consequences, and implications of population change, including the economic impact of below replacement fertility, population aging, and immigration, from an international perspective. Specific topics to be discussed include population distribution across the world, the effect of population growth on economic growth and the environment, technology for replacing human labor and immigration, the growing pension burden as population ages and birth rates decline, and demographic dividends in developing countries. The course will also examine the economic determinants of population change and demographic behavior such as fertility and marriage, comparing trends in developed and developing countries.