Demographics is the numerical study of populations, but far from being just “a bunch of numbers,” simple demographic analysis can provide profound insights about the past, the present and the future. We will explore how demographics can lead to a deeper understanding of everything from the South Korean economic miracle and the Arab Spring through control of Congress and falling enrollments in the Davis Joint Unified School District, to what lies ahead for Social Security, senior health care and California universities. We will also discuss global trends in birthrates, why we need more immigrants and what ever happened to Paul Ehrlich’s 1968 prediction of the population bomb.
Course Code
508598