[eldaisfish]

Immigration is a choice and this acts as a filter. Second - the USA and many new world societies are not built around ethnicity. This means that hard work has a decent return on investment. In the old world, who you are and whom you know are often more important than your skills.

European society is constructed around sharply defined ethnic groups, often identified by name and appearance. Ethnicity cannot be changed.

Curiously, Indians and Chinese nationals tend to do well in the USA because their motherlands are poor. This means that only the most well off can even contemplate moving to the USA. Obviously, these folks do well relative to poorer immigrants. Europe's other problem is that it attracts mostly low skilled, older immigrants.