The study confirms what many immigrants know from anecdotal evidence and it probably is true in other countries not only US. I grew up in communist Poland and i

The study confirms what many immigrants know from anecdotal evidence and it probably is true in other countries not only US. I grew up in communist Poland and immigrated to Canada in 1989 just as the system was crumbling. Met many immigrants in the first years in Canada both while working odd jobs (help in pizza restaurant, window washer, cheap labour of all all sorts) and after two years studying computer science at the university. There were very visible patterns. The more horrible the place of origin people came from the harder they worked/studied. Privileged kids at the university spent their weekends complaining about how hard the assignments were while I worked 4 shifts in two days in the cheap restaurant kitchen and did my assignments after midnight. (I was happy about this system because I ate for free all weekend long and had zero opportunities to spend money...). I realized that my immigrant story of difficult background and hard work in Canada was nothing special when the boss hired two brothers from Afghanistan as delivery drivers. Both of these guys it turned out had three jobs each! And they were always happy spreading good mood around... When I asked them what's the secret to this happiness they said that they managed to escape from Afghanistan with their families under Russian bombardment (previous war) without loosing anybody in the family. Working three jobs in Canada was like being in heaven for them. Most of the immigrants in the West come from difficult backgrounds and they don't take for granted what many Westerners do. Given any opportunities they will make sure to take them.