I dunno ... when you are only allowed to have 2 children I think you tend to want them to succeed more. Plus, they really have no choice over there. A lot of things are mandated. I think we are comparing apples to oranges as far as civil and human rights are concerned and this, to me, would include education.
I think the key is balance. My kids had to be involved in one thing in school and they could not quit it until the end of the school year. They had to do all of their homework. They had to do chores and they had to go outside and play. Also, it was okay to lose. Not everyone wins. If you want to win, try harder.
Did it work? fairly much. 2 out of 3 kids are fairly successful. The third one? They're on their way