In some cultures, if you excel in academics, it moves you along the SES chain, gives you opportunities you otherwise might not have. Education is the key to success. That sort of thinking. In the US, there are statistics that show college grads make more money, but then we say anyone can go to college. That's our national goal. If anyone can do it and you don't see other people working hard, why should you?
This blog post discusses an article finding that the U.S. labor market rewards skills more than in most other countries.
http://www.aei-ideas.org/2013/12/st...mart-skilled-workers-more-than-americas/Study: No economy in the world rewards smart, skilled workers more than America’s
James Pethokoukis
American Enterprise
December 27, 2013
