Videos

An interview with Sorana Toma (ENSAE–Laboratoire de Sociologie Quantitative) on migration and immigration. Questions: 1. I am planning to live in another country once I finish my studies and I feel it is very important to already know some people there. Is that generally the case when people decide to move to another country? 2. What can be the downsides of such “migrant networks” for the newcomer? 3. Is it easier to find a good job in your new home country if you already studied there?

An interview with Tom Emery (Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute, Erasmus University Rotterdam) on family support. Questions: 1. The media often report about increasing numbers of young adults depending on long-term financial support from their parents. But none of my friends or myself actually receive this kind of support – so, how dependent is this generation on their parents? 2. Who are the “lucky few”? Do they all have wealthy parents or are there any other common characteristics?

Interview with Tomáš Sobotka (Vienna Institute of Demography) on fertility in times of crisis. Questions: 1. We want to have children, but given the current economic crisis, we are not sure whether it is a good time right now. Do other people worry about the crisis when planning their families, and what are the effects? 2. Does it make a difference to family planning in times of economic crisis what kind of job people have? 3. Are there factors like family support, social networks or the infamous “biological clock” that are helping to overcome these worries?

Interview with Trifon Missov (Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR) ) on Ageing. Questions: 1. Sometimes I look at my friends who are my age and wonder why some look much younger, and others older. Is that an indication that everyone ages at a different rate? 2. What do we actually know about the individual rate of ageing for human beings? 3. Looking back at the totality of my life, were the illnesses and unhealthy habits of my youth more relevant for my rate of ageing, or rather the health problems that occurred in the later years of my life?

"Education is the demographic dimension that matters most for development" - an interview with Wolfgang Lutz (Wittgenstein Centre for Demography and Global Human Capital). Questions: 1. When you think about world population trends and forecasting: do you see scarcity or prosperity? 2. How alarming is low fertility in Europe in a global demographic context - will Europeans die out one day? 3. Is there an optimal level of fertility? 4. How important is it to slow down population increase in developing countries?

Having a child is as legitimate an aim in life as having a Mercedes" - an interview with Zsolt Spéder (Hungarian Demographic Research Institute, Budapest). Questions: 1. What are the most interesting demographic developments in the new European member states in the last decades? 2. What is the reason for this? 3. Will fertility behaviour change soon or always stay low? 4. What is the role of cultural factors compared to economic factors? 5. What do you consider the main cause for fertility decline?

 

Old-age poverty – generational conflict – pension crisis: these buzzwords were already part of public discussions even before the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, our ageing society offers more opportunities than risks. The question remains whether we can take advantage of them.

 

In honour of the German presidency of the Council of the European Union, State Sectretary Dr Markus Kerber (German Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community) and Prof. Dr Arnstein Aassve (Bocconi University) discussed what are the demographic parameters which support – or might prevent – individuals from being better prepared for the challenges of the pandemic.

Panel debate co-organised by the European Commission, Population Europe and the United Nations Population Fund.

Joining Generations & Gender Programme 2020 – Introductory Webinar with Anne Gauthier (GGP Director), Tom Emery (GGP Project Manager) & Deirdre Casella (GGP International Liaison Officer)