Meritocracy and inequality – exploring a complex relationship
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RIS BIB ENDNOTEMeritocracy and inequality – exploring a complex relationship
Publication date: 30.12.2022
Art of Healing, Volume 37 (2022), Volume 37, Issue 2, pp. 13 - 22
https://doi.org/10.4467/18982026SZL.22.009.16670Authors
Merytokracja i nierówności – badanie złożonej relacji
Ostatnie badania sugerują, że problem nierówności wydaje sięlegitymizowany przez postawy merytokratyczne. Choćtwierdzi się, że merytokracja uzasadnia nierówności społeczno-ekonomiczne poprzez definiowanie indywidualnych osiągnięći wysiłków jako przyczyn nierówności, często nie dostrzega się, jak działająmechanizmy leżące u jej podstaw. W niniejszym opracowaniu badano, jak merytokracja podtrzymuje nierówności. W swojej mieszanej, sekwencyjnej konstrukcji wyjaśniającej najpierw opiera sięna danych ilościowych pochodzących z kwestionariusza, stwierdzając znacząco pozytywnąi nieelastycznąrelacjęmiędzy akceptacjąnierówności a przekonaniami merytokratycznymi.
Następnie przeprowadzono jakościowy, systematyczny przegląd literatury, sugerując, że związek między merytokracjąa nierównościąmoże byćbardziej okrężny, niżwcześniej zakładano. Ponadto wyniki sugerują, że merytokratyczne postawy ludzi zależąbardziej od ich kontekstu społecznego niżod ich aprobaty dla merytokracji.
Recent studies have suggested that the inequality problem seems to be legitimated by meritocratic attitudes. Whilst it is argued that meritocracy justifies socio-economic inequalities by defining individual achievements and efforts as causes for inequality, it is often overlooked how underlying mechanisms work. This study investigates how meritocracy sustains inequalities. In its mixed methods explanatory sequential design, it first builds on quantitative data from an International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) questionnaire, finding a significantly positive and inelastic relationship between inequality acceptance and meritocratic beliefs. Subsequently, a qualitative systematic literature review is conducted, suggesting that the relationship between meritocracy and inequality may be more circular than previously assumed. Furthermore, the results suggest that people’s meritocratic attitudes depend more on their social context than on their endorsement of meritocracy.
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Information: Art of Healing, Volume 37 (2022), Volume 37, Issue 2, pp. 13 - 22
Article type: Original article
Titles:
Meritocracy and inequality – exploring a complex relationship
Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
Indiana University, Bloomington Indiana USA
Published at: 30.12.2022
Received at: 02.04.2022
Accepted at: 19.09.2022
Article status: Open
Licence: CC BY
Percentage share of authors:
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EnglishView count: 674
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