This course provides a comprehensive understanding of the population and social developments in Asian societies, with a special focus on East and Southeast Asia.  It will look at the basic demographic characteristics of Asian population; the effects of mortality, fertility and migration on population size, growth, and composition as well as the distinctive features of demographic transition in Asia.  It will also look at the inter-relationship between population dynamics, social development, and social policy. Topics include low fertility and family change; population ageing and its implications for social welfare, quality of life, and health care; the impacts of sex imbalance on marriage and gender equality; the impacts of rural to urban migration on family, employment, urbanization, and social inequality. 

Finally, this course will look at the population and social developments in Asia from various theoretical perspectives, and consider contemporary discussions and debates surrounding social policies in affecting the current and future demographic and social developments in Asian societies.