Module overview
During the module you will develop your key skills in:
1. Understanding and exploring the associations between population, poverty and policy issues in a range of countries and setting
2. Analysing complex information and producing well-argued and structured papers that explain key links and pathways
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Comment on inequalities and wealth and their relationship with demographic processes.
- Understand the multidimensional characteristics of poverty and approaches and concepts of poverty measurement
- Understand the debates around the influence of population growth on economic growth, both in historical the current context.
- Understand micro level effects such as the adverse effect of poor health on the chances of individuals and households escaping poverty.
- Understand how policy can influence both poverty and population processes, and the interactions between them
- Understand the importance of population age structure on poverty and economic growth, and the potential impacts of the demographic dividend and rapidly aging populations.
Syllabus
The module content may vary to an extent from year to year according to the research interests of the module lecturers. However, indicative content includes:
- Poverty - concepts and measurement;
- Population growth and economic wellbeing;
- Demographic dividend
- COVID19, global inequality and poverty
- Population aging and depopulation Case study: Population change and policy in China
- Workshop—writing policy briefs
- Migration, immigration, race/ethnicity, and poverty
- Young adults, welfare support, and inequalities in transition to adulthood
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching and learning is mostly through interactive lecture sessions or workshops as well as self-study. Reading will be distributed in advance to promote engagement and debate.
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Teaching | 30 |
| Independent Study | 120 |
| Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
General Resources
Text books, web sites, other sources of related information..
Internet Resources
Journal Articles
Merrick, T. (2002). Population and policy: New views on an old controversy.. International Family Planning Perspectives, 28(1), pp. 41-46.
Ahlburg, D. (2002). Does population matter? A review essay. Population and Development Review, 28(2), pp. 329-350.
Textbooks
Birdsall, N., Kelley, A., & Sinding, S. (2001). Population matters: Demographic change, economic growth and poverty in the developing world.
Yeates, N. (eds) (2008). Understanding Global Social Policy. Bristol.
Collier, P. (2007). The bottom billion: Why the poorest countries are failing and what can be done about it.
Chen, S. and Ravallion, M (2008). The developing world is poorer than we thought, but no less successful in the fight against poverty. Washington.
Yeates, N. and Holden, C. (2009). The Global Social Policy Reader. Bristol.
Bloom, D.E., Canning, D., & Sevilla, J. (2003). The demographic dividend. A new perspective on the economic consequences of population change, Population Matters.. Santa Monica, U.S.
Assessment
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Policy brief | 100% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Coursework assignment(s) | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External