And immigrant families pay more taxes than do average native families, because more of them are working. Therefore, immigrants into Israel as well as North America and Australia surely contribute more to the public coffers in taxes than they draw out in welfare services. Some veteran Israelis complain about the economic assistance that the Russians receive. Furthermore, funds from outside of Israel have more than covered housing and other absorption expenditures. The absorption expenditures do not come from Israeli taxpayers' pockets.
Immigrants demonstrate desirable economic traits.
Fully 60 or 70 percent of the new Soviet immigrants are in the labor force, compared to 48 percent of the Israeli public. Part of this huge difference is due to the age structure. But the immigrants also have a high job-seeking propensity, especially among women. In 1989, they were valedictorians in 13 of 17 Boston public high schools. And the children of immigrants earn more than average in all countries studied.