Population Policy Case Studies

In this course, students will evaluate how demography matters for policy design and policy analysis. Very few countries have official, or explicit, population policies, but many social policies are a result of demographic change, or are designed to influence demographic change. There are many examples of policies that have unintended consequences on the growth of populations, while in other cases, despite demographic pressures, policy interventions have been absent. The reasons governments take these approaches will be considered. The course will also examine policy instruments that have been used across the world to understand their approach and their effects. Students will complete a case study report that analyse a range of policies, both population and non-population related, to evaluate the effects – intended or otherwise – on population. In completing this course, students will think critically on how demographic methods and theory apply to real-world policy problems, while considering how demographic policy may be critiqued and improved from a range of disciplinary perspectives.