Demographic changes, the labor market, and gender inequality 2400-PL3SL334A
The aim of the seminar is to prepare and conduct an empirical research project and to develop a bachelor’s thesis focused on contemporary demographic changes and their social and economic consequences. The seminar concentrates on the analysis of changes in population structure, family dynamics, the labor market, and public policy in the context of a rapidly changing society.
Topics covered within the seminar may include issues related to family formation and dissolution, declining fertility, increasing longevity, population ageing, and changing gender roles. Particular attention may be devoted to the relationships between demographic processes and labor market activity, including the determinants of women’s and men’s participation in the labor market and the impact of changes in family situations on educational and occupational decisions. In addition, students may address topics related to the role of public policy in mitigating the socio-economic consequences of demographic change and in supporting labor market participation and the reconciliation of work and family life.
Course coordinators
Type of course
Learning outcomes
During the seminar, students will learn how to prepare and describe an empirical research project, including how to conduct a literature review, formulate research questions, design an empirical study, analyze data, interpret results, and draw conclusions. Students will prepare a bachelor’s thesis and substantially deepen their knowledge of demographic processes and their socio-economic consequences.
Assessment criteria
The following learning outcomes will be assessed:
Knowledge and understanding of the research topic
Completeness of the literature review
Ability to formulate research questions
Quality of statistical analyses
Ability to interpret data and draw conclusions
Critical thinking skills
Academic writing skills
Bibliography
Alderotti, G., Vignoli, D., Baccini, M., Matysiak, A., 2021, Employment Instability and Fertility in Europe: A Meta-Analysis, Demography 58(3): 871-900.
Blau FD and Kahn LM (2017) The gender wage gap: Extent, trends, and explanations. Journal of Economic Literature 55(3): 789-865.
Cukrowska-Torzewska, E., Matysiak, A., , 2020, The Motherhood Wage Penalty: A Meta-Analysis. Social Science Research 88-89, Article 102416.
Goldscheider, F., Bernhardt, E. & Lappegård, T. 2015. The Gender Revolution: A Framework for Understanding Changing Family and Demographic Behavior. Population and Development Review, 41, 207-239.
Matysiak, A., Vignoli, D. (2026). The End of an Era. The Vanishing Negative Effect of Women’s Employment on Fertility. Population and Development Review
Schneider, N., Kreyenfeld, M., Handbook of Family Sociology, Edward Elgar Publishing
Permanayer, I. Handbook of Population Heterogeneities. Edward Elgar Publishing
OECD Employment Outlooks