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Who Benefits from Meritocracy?

Author

Listed:
  • Diana Moreira
  • Santiago Pérez

Abstract

Individuals from lower-income backgrounds are underrepresented in high-status occupations. This underrepresentation has coincided with increasing scrutiny of the “meritocratic” criteria shaping access to these positions. We study the equity impacts of a prominent example of meritocratic selection: civil service exams. To do so, we use evidence from the Pendleton Act, a historical reform that introduced such exams to select U.S. federal employees. We find that, although the reform increased the representation of “educated outsiders” (individuals with high education but limited connections), it reduced the representation of lower-SES individuals. This reduction was stronger among applicants from states with high educational inequality.

Suggested Citation

  • Diana Moreira & Santiago Pérez, 2022. "Who Benefits from Meritocracy?," NBER Working Papers 30113, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:30113
    Note: DAE DEV POL
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    Cited by:

    1. Moisson, Paul-Henri, 2024. "Meritocracy and Inequality," TSE Working Papers 24-1518, Toulouse School of Economics (TSE), revised Apr 2024.
    2. Deserranno, Erika & Leon-Ciliotta, Gianmarco, 2022. "Promotions and Productivity: The Role of Meritocracy and Pay Progression in the Public Sector," CEPR Discussion Papers 15837, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J62 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Job, Occupational and Intergenerational Mobility; Promotion
    • M5 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics
    • N21 - Economic History - - Financial Markets and Institutions - - - U.S.; Canada: Pre-1913

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