Changes in population size, distribution, and composition affectthe culture and social structure of a society and change the relationships among nations. The countries experiencing the most rapid increases in population have a lessdeveloped infrastructure to deal with those changes. How will nations of the world deal with population growth as the global population continues to grow? Only time will provide a response to this question.
In the United States, a shiftin population distribution from central cities to suburban areas and commuter towns has produced other dramatic changes. Central cities have experienced a shrinking tax base, as middle-income and upper-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 public resources and essential services. The changing composition ofthe US population has
resulted in children from more diverse cultural backgrounds entering school, producing a demand for new programs and changes in curricula. An increase in the birth rate has created a need for more child care; an increase in the olderpopulation has created a need for services such as medical care, placing greater demands on programs such as Social Security.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 population is one ofthe most significant driving forces behind environmental concerns, such as the availability and use of natural resources.