London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

Modules160 Population and society

Prerequisite None Exclusion

May not be taken with 58 Demography

Aims and objectives

This unit deals with the inter-relationship between the demographic characteristics
of a society (fertility, mortality and migration) and their economic and social
context. The causes of demographic change and their consequences are examined.
The focus of the unit is comparative, both across time and between developed and
less developed societies. It provides an up-to-date and comprehensive account of
global population trends and processes. The objectives of the unit are:
? To introduce you to key theoretical debates in population studies.
? To introduce you to key concepts and approaches to understanding
demographic change.
? To describe and evaluate the substantive evidence out of which theories about
population change have emerged.
? To describe how societies change in response to population change and vice
versa.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this unit, students should be able to
? understand the main theoretical and empirical issues in population studies
? comprehend and interpret basic demographic data
? critically analyse processes of contemporary population change and their
policy implications
Syllabus
This unit makes use of diverse historical and theoretical perspectives to illustrate
and analyse the relationships between population and society. Individual topics are
addressed through a combination of theoretical understanding, knowledge of
substantive processes and evidence, and policy implications.
Topics covered are:
? the relationship between population size and available resources, including an
assessment of Malthusian and neo-Malthusian perspectives and their
opponents;
?
social, biological and economic influences on population growth rates;
? the demographic and health transitions;

? HIV/AIDS;
? fertility decline and the role of family planning programmes;
? the changing characteristics of the family;
? population ageing and its social and economic consequences;
? theories of, and trends in, migration and urbanisation.
Essential reading
Rowland, D. Demographic methods and concepts. (Oxford University Press, 2003)
[ISBN 0198752636]
Livi-Bacci, M., A concise history of world population. (Blackwell, 2001) third
edition [ISBN 0631223347].
Trovato, F. (ed) Population and society: essential readings. (Oxford University
Press, 2001) [ISBN 0195416392].
Lutz, W. The future population of the world. What can we assume today?
(Earthscan 1994) [ISBN 1853832391]
Journals
There are a number of journals which will form the basis to lists of
suggested readings and which provide useful up-to-date materials. They
are:
Population and Development Review
Population Studies
Demography
Social Science and Medicine
Assessment
This unit is assessed by a three hour unseen written examination.
All information in this document is subject to confirmation in the Programme Regulations for
degrees and diplomas in Economics, Management, Finance and the Social Sciences that are
reviewed annually. Notice is also given in the Regulations of any units which are being phased
out and students are advised to check unit availability.