Why immigrants are successful - Essay Example

? Immigrants Since ancient times, world has experienced a number of episodes of immigration. Immigration is a process where residents of one country move to other country due to multiple reasons to settle there on permanent basis. Immigration plays a vital role in population rise and amalgamation of culture that leads to social, political, and economic enormities that are causing several controversies. Along with many countries of the world, United States has also undergone the effects of immigration. According to statistics, during the 17th and 18th centuries, few people have migrated to U.S. but this trend gradually accelerated after 1820s; however, last two decades have seen whopping migration to U.S. because the government is permitting the foreigners to work legally (Edmonston, pp. 35-75). The current scenario reflects that immigrants prove to be more successful than the U.S. citizens are. A faction of American population has a wrong impression that their government is supporting and funding the immigrants as a part of their business strategy. However, some schools of thought believe that the present status of the immigrants is solely due to their sincere hard work. It is enlightened in the following arguments. In the view point of U.S. citizens, immigrants are creating economic decline, as they do not pay taxes when compared to the facilities and benefits they acquire from the social services. Whereas the findings of numerous researches prove that these immigrants have boosted the economy to unprecedented levels as they are high-skilled workers who are willing to work at a lower wage and works more efficiently as compared to the citizens. Moreover, it results in cheaper and better production of goods with promising profits. Though immigrants compete with the local people for low-proficiency jobs, they even sometimes get an edge on the locals through their expertise in the areas that is non-existent in a particular locality (Fairchild, pp. 237-267). American natives live such a lifestyle that they do everything according to their wishes and desires. Their upbringing is in a much-pampered way that makes them simply unaware of the meaning of struggle in life. On the other hand, immigrants such as Asians, Africans, Arabs, and Israelis come from a third world background where their entire lives had gone through economical and financial hardships, therefore, the only thing that they desire to have is money for which they migrate to U.S. where they find a gold mine waiting to be struck. As a result, their primary focus is to earn money so that they can provide their family with comfort and high-standards of living, and afford quality education for their children. Therefore, happiness for oneself becomes the last priority for any immigrant (Pratt Fairchild, pp. 237-267). It is a fact that U.S denizens have confined themselves to a shorter period of working time that is approximately 8 hours per day or 40 hours a week. Whereas, the immigrants work for a prolong duration of time that can reach up to 70-80 hours a week. Investors see a reliable scope in investing on the immigrants, as they do not fear hard work and if they receive a share in profit, they would be willing to work even harder. Immigrants realize the importance of money as they earn it by sweat of the brow. Therefore, their spending behavior is unlike the U.S. citizens. They do not believe in redundant spending on luxury. In fact, they are prudent in spending money, purchase only necessary goods, and save the rest for the rainy days. Their eventual goal is to save money as much as possible for which they look for entities that are on sale (Chiswick, pp. 28-97). Education has an utmost importance in an individual’s life as it makes an individual competent and capable of earning respectable amount of money. The immigrants always welcome education when their work demands, regardless of their age. The extensive market researches have clearly stated that the immigrants whether Asians or Africans are in high proportion with reference to education. It may be because an immigrant avails the options to either go to a college, or attend a nighttime class or study online. Therefore, immigrants’ academic achievement enables them to have a high salary/wage. Although American natives possess high level of academic qualifications, yet they fall back in ratio when judged against educational portfolio of the immigrants (Edmonston, pp. 145-185). U.S. citizens always run after luxuries that include an exclusive house, lavish car, expensive food, and invaluable belongings as they have always lived such a lifestyle. Whereas, the small house in suburbs and simple foods to eat will satisfy the immigrants, because all what is of prime importance to them is the shelter they look for and a feeling of happiness seeing that their children are getting what they have never dreamt before. Whatsoever, the conditions in the U.S. is far better than what are, they have experienced back home, so they feel blessed with whatever they have (William, pp. 75-130). Other’s opinion leaves a great impact on the mindsets of U.S. nationals. Whenever they are discouraged from doing or performing a task, they take it excessively personally and do not strive to attempt it. On the other hand, one cannot neglect the self-confidence that immigrants have. Whenever they face a refusal or are let down by other people, they accept the challenge to prove their capabilities and work towards achievement of that task. U.S. citizens are more likely to be afraid of changes as they are living in a same environment since a young age. The different social, cultural, and economic backgrounds affecting immigrants’ life provide them to enhance self-belief, as they are always flexible to changes. American born does not possess an eagle eye, which can identify the opportunities and can make maximum advantage from it; therefore, they are less efficient in the race with (immigrant) professionals. To identify a prospect and work on basis of it to achieve the target beyond expectation are the foremost qualities of an entrepreneur. Due to leadership qualities and entrepreneurial skills, an immigrant is always in search for opportunities, grabs it when he finds one and makes full use out of it (William, pp. 75-130). With reference to the argument presented above, it is transparent that immigrants are successful in United States not because government has aided them but it is their own skills and capabilities, which have made them to prosper. The upbringing, conviction, lifestyle, confidence, and expert skills in a particular domain make the immigrant competent as well. After a prolonged period of hard work and economical attitude, immigrants make sufficient money that enable those to own businesses such as gas stations and make real estate properties to secure their future as well as their families’ future. In doing so, American government only provided the immigrants with the work permit and the immigrants carried out rest of the tedious process of becoming successful on their own. Work Cited Chiswick, Barry R. The economics of immigration: selected papers. Edward Elgar Publishing Press. 2005. Dvorak, William. Immigration in the United States. The H.W. Wilson Company. 2009. Edmonston, Barry. Statistics on U.S. immigration: an assessment of data needs for future research. National Academy Press. 1997.  Fairchild, Henry P. Immigration - A World Movement and Its American Significance. 2009. Read More