Georgia lost up to 30% of its population after the collapse of the Soviet Empire (even the WB tends to hide this fact). Many of them left to find jobs somewhere. Most of the population of ex-SU had some kind of marketable skills and knowledge and the collapse of the economy left them without any job for long time and hence, without any chances for developing those skills and knowledge. They needed to have some money to live on and they decided to leave. Some of the Georgian citizens left for their own original countries, for instance Jews and Greeks (even Georgians always tolarated all ethnic or religious groups or persons). BTW, so called Georgian Jews still live their lives with Georgian traditions, speak and sing Georgian…
Now, about main question of this post. After some observations on the lives of Georgians in many countries, comparing with stile of life of Georgians in the SU, there appeared a question:
Why Georgians tend to become criminals in the EU and work hard in the US?
This question is not directed to Georgians. Yes, there are many criminals of Georgian originality in Russia, Ukraine, Germany, Spain, Greece, and especially in Austria (which decided to make huge obstacles to Georgians who want to travel there after that).
What can be real reason for this situation in Austria – I have been thinking for months. Then, after comparing this to the realities of the Georgians in the US, I think I found an appropriate answer.
It started after Soviet collapse. Many people, skillful workers and engineers and scientists among them, remained without jobs and chances for developing their skills and knowledge, or staying competitive on the market. Now, many of them decided to find jobs abroad: some of them went to Russia, some to Germany, Austria, Greece, Spain, Italy, France, UK, US, etc. Most of them work very hard – earning enough money live on it and send remittances to their relatives. Some of Georgians live criminal life – they are “successful” in this too.
But question is to understand why Georgians in the US work very hard (10-12 hours a day) and become criminals in Austria (or other EU country). To answer this question let’s look inside of these countries:
- Austria (and most countries of the EU) – state redistributes the wealth, it provides generous assistance to people, sometimes financing their life for long periods maybe not for wealthy life but enough for life. When Georgians (Aeries, Russians, etc) come there first information they get is that the government is “helpful” and “generous”. It can keep you from dying. It can provide you with food, room, clothes, some furniture, etc. So why to work, why try to find job – it’s so hard! Instead you only need to apply for assistance and allowance. After long period of doing nothing, walking around, you can mention how careless can be some workers at supermarkets and shops, how many things can be taken without problems, how easy is to earn money just to use this carelessness, etc. Then more heavy criminal ideas start to appear and after a while local police will be in a trouble – what to do with Georgians?
- The US – most of Georgian of course tend to settle in NY (mostly in Brooklyn). They find the city very attractive for some reasons: 1) climate is similar to Georgia 2) there are many Russian speakers in Brooklyn (it is still useful for Geogians) 3) diversity of the ethnic groups and individuals is what Georgians always were accepting 4) jobs – they appear every day, so if you want to work you do. 5) even if you are illegal emigrant local police, if don’t commit a crime, never touches you (simply it’s not their duty) 6) if you commit a crime – you’re lost 7) NOBODY offers you any assistance – instead – go and make money.
And Georgians work – very hard. It is a crush of another soviet myth that Georgians are simply lazy people. They are not (simply) lazy – they are rational and when there is a choice of having benefits without work or working hard they chose no work. In the US it is not possible but the EU governments, so generous and gullible, offer them do not work - steal instead and then we will imprison you (Georgians are ALL the same – criminals!).
But we are happy we could somehow answer the main question. It is simple: don’t give Georgians (or any ex-soviets) assistance, give them chances (open to them labor markets) to work!
The epilogue:
A Georgian in NY told me once: you can’t believe but here if you want to have a trouble you don’t need to be imprisoned for a crime, or bitten by local bandits, or even caught by the emigration service. The worst trouble you can have is if you have failed to pay in time for your credit card debts. If you do this more than twice you are really finished - go back to Georgia. We can only hope these people will come back with their greatest experience and make Georgia prosperous.
