I think a mixture of 2 and 3 are the main reasons "People in European countries on the other hand seem to be encouraged to avoid risk and avoid anything that m

I think a mixture of 2 and 3 are the main reasons "People in European countries on the other hand seem to be encouraged to avoid risk and avoid anything that might lead to less job security in the short term. Hence the best programmers, designers and other such people usually either find employment in a more stable company (read, one where there's a work/life balance) or move to the US to work in Silicon Valley."