Manyoftheworld’scountrieshavereachedorareapproachingzeropopulationgrowth(ZPG)．Nearlyallsuchlandsareeconomicallywelldeveloped．TheyincludemuchofEurope(includingRussia)，theUnitedStates，Canada，Japan．andAustralia．Astherateofnaturalincrease(RNI)declines，twothingshappen．First，thepopulationbeginstodeclineifthelossisnotbalancedbyimmigration．Second，acountry’spopulationagesbecausetherearefewerbirths．

IsachievingZPGgoodorbad?Whathappenswhenacountry’spopulationbeginstodrop?Manypeople，afterall，believethatpopulationdeclineisagoodthing．Butisitgoodforeveryone?Doeseveryoneagree?

Anagingpopulationcancreatemanyproblems．Seniorcitizensrequiremorehealthcareandmedicalattention．Ratherthanpayingintoretirementprograms，theybegintodrawfromtheirpensions．IntheUS，theSocialSecurityprogram，accordingtomanyexperts，willbeusedupby2018．Itwillpayoutmoremoneythanittakesin．Additionallyagreatnumberofjobsgobegginginsearchofpeoplewillingorentrylevelpositionsthatpaylowwages．Withanabletodothem．Manyofthesejobsareagingpopulation，whowillfillthem?Attheotherextreme，somepositionsrequirealargenumberoftrainingandhighlyspecializedskills．Whowillfillthesepositionsasretireesleavetheworkforce?

Theanswertotheproblemofdecliningandagingpopulationissimple：increasedmigration．Todaymanypeople，particularlythosefromlessdevelopedcountries，aremigratinginsearchofemployment．Manyarewillingtotakejobsthatcannot(orwillnot)befilledbythedomesticpopulation．Othersarewelleducatedandhighlyskilled．Bothgroupscontributetoacountry’seconomyprogressinmanyways．Furthertheyaddtotherichnessofacountry’sculture．Ofgreatestimportance，perhaps，isthefactthattheyhavebecomeabsolutelynecessarytotheeconomyofmanylands．Asyoucansee，formanycountriesandformostimmigrants，migrationisawin—winsituation．

30.Inthewriter’sview，whichofthefollowingstatementsisTRUE?

A．NoteveryoneagreesthatachievingZPGisabsolutelygood．

B．AchievingZPGiseverycountry’saiminspiteofitssideeffects．

C．AchievingZPGisbadforseniorcitizens．