I think a mixture of 2 and 3 are the main reasons<p>&quot;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.<p>Hence the best programmers, designers and other such people usually either find employment in a more stable company (read, one where there&#x27;s a work&#x2F;life balance) or move to the US to work in Silicon Valley.&quot;