380.655.01
Social and Economic Aspects of Human Fertility

Cancelled

Location
East Baltimore
Term
2nd Term
Department
Population, Family and Reproductive Health
Credit(s)
4
Academic Year
2017 - 2018
Instruction Method
TBD
Class Time(s)
M, W, 10:30am - 12:20pm
Auditors Allowed
Yes, with instructor consent
Available to Undergraduate
No
Grading Restriction
Letter Grade or Pass/Fail
Course Instructor(s)
William Mosher
Contact Name
William Mosher
Frequency Schedule
Every Year
Prerequisite

Co-registration or completion of at least one statistics course is helpful but not required.

Description
Each year in the world there are about 146 million births, 57 million deaths, and population growth of about 89 million--about 243,000 per day, or 10,000 an hour. Birth rates range from about 7 children per woman in some countries (producing rapid population growth) to just over 1 child per woman (which can produce population decline) in others. What explains these wide variations, and can they be affected by policy? These are important questions, and this course attempts to survey what behavioral scientists know about, and how they approach, these issues.
Examines social and economic theories about the relationship between social and economic change and birth rates in past and contemporary societies. Reviews the strengths and limitations of the theories for explaining fertility trends and differences. Examines fertility trends in Africa, China, India, Europe, and the US. Looks at literature on differences in fertility by education and religion. Examines unintended pregnancy and fertility policy.
Learning Objectives
Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  1. Explain how the ideas advanced by Davis/Blake and Bongaarts can serve as a unifying conceptual framework for the study of human fertility
  2. Describe the classic theories of fertility decline, and identify the major ways in which these classic theories have been criticized and updated
  3. Identify the main theories related to low fertility and the evidence suggesting that fertility will or will not remain low in the more developed countries
  4. Describe how factors such as gender roles, religion, family and social class affect fertility through the proximate determinants
  5. Evaluate literature on fertility, and present it in a professional manner
Instructor Consent
No consent required
Special Comments

Course is held in departmental space.