Population and Change
Changes in population size, distribution. and composition affect the culture and social structure of a society and change the relationships among nations. As discussed in Chapter 19, the countries experiencing the most rapid increases in population have a less-developed infrastructure to deal with those changes. How will nations of the world deal with population growth as the global population c on continues to move toward seven billion? Only time will provide a response to this question. In the United States, a shift in population distribution from central cities tn suburban and exurban areas has produced other dramatic changes. Central cities have experienced a shrinking tax base as middle- and upper middle- income residents and businesses have moved to suburban and outlying areas. As a result. schools and public services have declined in many areas.leaving those people with the greatest needs with the fewest pt blic resources and essential services. The changing composition of the u.s. population has resulted in children from more diverse cultural backgrounds entering school, producing aa demand for new programs and changes in curricula. An increase in the birth rate has ,-e "co a need lor more child care; an increase m the older population has created a need for services such as medical care, placing greater demands on programs such as Social Security. As we have seen in previous chapters, population growth and the movement of people to urban areas have . brought profound changes to many regions and intensified existing social problems, Among other factors, growth in the global population is one of the most significant driving forces behind environmental concerns such as the availability and use of natural resources .
