meritocracy

(noun)

Rule by merit, and talent. By extension, now often used to describe a type of society where wealth, income, and social status are assigned through competition.

Related Terms

Examples of meritocracy in the following topics:

  • Bureaucratization of Schools

    • Meritocracy means that hiring and promotion should be based on proven and documented skills, rather than on nepotism or random choice.
    • However, the theory of meritocracy becomes convoluted when it is applied to schools because some individuals have access to privileges that give them advantages over other individuals.

  • Socialism

    • Early socialist thinkers tended to favour an authentic meritocracy combined with rational social planning.