It Isn't Just Asian Immigrants Who Thrive in the U.S.

In a recent column in the New York Times, Nicholas Kristof dared to ask the “awkward question” of why Asian-Americans have been so economically successful in the U.S. The most important reasons, he says, are hard work and a reverence for education:

Kristof notes research showing that even when IQ scores are equally matched, East Asian kids tend to get ahead by working harder. He also cites experiments indicating that the stereotype of high intelligence and strong academic potential may be self-fulfilling -- a positive version of “stereotype threat.”