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BEUR403
European Demography
The past few decades have been characterised by fundamental changes in Europe’s population structure. Low birth rates coupled with a higher life expectancy in the majority of European countries are transforming the age structure of the population and resulting in an increased burden on those of working age to provide for the financial contributions and services required by an ageing population. This module will examine the variances in life expectancy between EU Member States and determine their dependency ratio. It will look at future trends for population ageing by making reference to Eurostat’s most recent projections while highlighting the implications of an ageing population on public spending. It will also review statistics pertaining to birth and fertility rates, death rates and infant mortality in Europe.
This module will delve into the differences in demographic patterns between European countries and between regions within the same country through an analysis of their population distribution and density. It will discuss the EU Cohesion Policy and will analyse its revisions since it the 1980s. It will also examine the strengthening of coordination and coherence between the cohesion policy and other EU policies contributing to regional development and will highlight the change in the aims of the EU regional policy with the adoption of the Lisbon Strategy in 2000.
This module will also study the role of migration as a driver of population change in Europe and demonstrate how demographic data can influence governments’ policies and programmes in the fields of employment, social policy and health as well as in areas related to asylum and migration. This module will also discuss the EU’s cohesion policy, its funds and priorities.
By the end of this programme, participants should be able to:
a. Manage his/her own learning by conducting research on the variances in life expectancy between EU Member States;
b. Establish the implications of an ageing population on public spending;
c. Collaborate with others in analysing and interpreting statistics pertaining to birth and fertility rates, death rates and infant mortality rates in Europe.
a. Define terminology associated with demographic studies;
b. Identify different demographic patterns between European countries and between regions within the same country;
c. Recognise the factors which result in a higher life expectancy among Europeans.
a. Show how the scale of migrant flows to Europe has resulted in a dispersal of the world’s population;
b. Demonstrate how demographic data influences governments’ policies and programmes in several fields including those of employment, social policy and health;
c. Engage with literature related to population dynamics in order to enhance his/her understanding and knowledge of the subject.
This module adopts a blended approach to teaching and learning. Information related to the structure and delivery of the module may be accessed through the IfE Portal. For further details, kindly refer to the Teaching, Learning and Assessment Policy and Procedures found on the Institute for Education’s website.
This programme adopts continuous and summative methods of assessment including assignments, online tasks, reflective journals, projects and video presentations. For further details, kindly refer to the Teaching, Learning and Assessment Policy and Procedures.
The Institute for Education is a Further and Higher Education Institution with Licence number 2016-006
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