The meritocracy trap : how America's foundational myth feeds inequality, dismantles the middle class, and devours the elite
by Markovits, Daniel, 1969- (Author)
Summary
"It is an axiom of American life that advantage should be earned through ability and effort. Even as the country divides itself at every turn, the meritocratic ideal--that social and economic rewards should follow achievement rather than breeding--reigns supreme. Both Democrats and Republicans insis... Full description
- Part one.
- Meritocracy and its discontents.
- The meritocratic revolution ;
- The harms of meritocracy ;
- The coming class war
- Part two.
- How meritocracy works.
- The working rich ;
- The meritocratic inheritance ;
- Gloomy and glossy jobs
- Part three.
- A new aristocracy.
- A comprehensive divide ;
- Snowball inequality ;
- The myth of merit
- Conclusion:
- What should we do?