Daniel Markovits: The Meritocracy Trap
Channel: Room for Discussion
Date: 2021-02-12

Society tells us that we live in a meritocratic system. If you work hard you will make it, those at the top deserve their positions because they worked for it. The best person for the best job. But what if this system is fundamentally flawed? That’s what Professor Daniel Markovits believes. In this interview we will talk about the idea of the "Meritocracy Trap". According to him meritocracy is not the solution but the problem. It has resulted in an increasing gap between elites who do everything to keep their positions, while social mobility for the majority is non-existent. Meritocracy is not just failing, but its even hurting the elites themselves. That and more in this edition of Room for Discussion.

00:00 Intro
00:11 What is Meritocracy and its Origins?
06:10 The Link Between Meritocracy and Neoliberalism
13:24 What is the "Meritocracy Trap"?
25:42 Is a Perfect Meritocracy Even Possible?
28:46 Isn't Daniel Markovits Part of the Problem?
30:46 The Negative Effects of "Meritocracy" on Elites
37:08 The Good Side of Meritocracy
45:22 Solutions to Fix Meritocracy
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