The Meritocracy Trap

We are in the midst of a dangerous period of social upheaval caused by runaway economic inequality and social division. Yet it is nothing less than an axiom of modern life that meritocracy - the idea of just reward for effort and ability - reigns supreme and promises to promote opportunity for all. So deeply entrenched is this belief in our psyche that, even as society divides itself at almost every turn, all sides can be heard repeating meritocratic notions. After all, meritocracy cuts to the heart of who we think we are.

But what if upward social mobility is an anachronistic fantasy, the embattled middle-class is now far more likely to join the ranks of the working poor than those of the professional class? What if, in fact, meritocracy itself is directly causing the rampant inequality tearing the country apart, not only ruining the lives of a weakening middle class and a struggling working class, but also taking a toll on the rich too? Today's elites are not born into an old-fashioned aristocracy, but now must exploit themselves and their lavish educations in order to remain unhappily at the top of the heap. What if, both up and down the social ladder, meritocracy itself is a sham?

This is the radical argument that The Meritocracy Trap prosecutes with rare force, comprehensive research, and devastating persuasion. Daniel Markovits, a law professor trained in philosophy and economics, is better placed than most to give the lie to meritocracy. Having spent his life at elite universities, he knows from the inside the corrosive system we are trapped within, as well as how we can take the first steps towards a new world that might once again afford us both prosperity and dignity.

“The Meritocracy Trap defines a central issue for our age”

Daniel Markovits delivers a fierce indictment ... perfectly pitched to the contemporary political moment -- Jennifer Schuessler New York Times Brimstone rains down from every sentence. -- Louis Menand New Yorker an imaginative new book that will prompt endless debate in the faculty lounge, the country-club tap room, and the family dinner table. ... He melds the economic royalist critique with an insightful new analysis -- David M. Shribman The Boston Globe At once wide-ranging and rigorous, subtle and penetrating, Markovits's book is revelatory both in its particulars and in its big picture. Anyone who wants to argue about the merits of meritocracy must take account of this book. -- Kwame Anthony Appiah Daniel Markovits has written a bold, brave critique of the meritocracy-backed version of inequality that prevails today. He argues persuasively that meritocracy is destructive and demoralizing for winners and losers alike. Challenging conventional wisdom, Markovits shows that technological change is not a fact of nature that happens to increase the value of highly credentialed workers; instead, the prevalence of credentialed elites calls forth technologies that bias the labour market in their favour and hollow out the middle class. This is a splendid book that should prompt soul-searching among meritocrats. Michael Sandel The Meritocracy Trap is an entertaining read, full of useful facts, and contains some penetrating insights into the shortcomings of what amounts to a secular religion, not just in America but across the West. -- Toby Young Spectator -- Camilla Cavendish Sunday Times

Daniel Markovits is Guido Calabresi Professor of Law at Yale Law School. He works in the philosophical foundations of private law, moral and political philosophy, and behavioral economics.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.