There is an interesting topic that I have been debating as to whether or not linking a top ranking site to a new site will give the new site top search engine rankings as well. There are too many variables in the Google algorithm to exactly find the answer to this question. For example back links, domain age, keyword placement, and many other factors can increase or decrease sites rankings on the search engines.
From my observations and my experience it seems that Google and the other search engines are coming to light about this trick to increase rankings. I believe that Google has taken this into consideration when they wrote their latest algorithm. It still plays its part in rankings, but it does not have such a large impact as before. As the search engines change and become keen to the SEO and SEM tricks, we must find other ethical ways to beat the competitors. We all must remember that black hat SEO methods should be avoided at all times