Sociology & Anthropology · Social Stratification & Inequality
A topic within Social Stratification & Inequality, itself one of 10 topics in that field and part of Sociology & Anthropology.
2 works
Michael Young
The sociologist who coined 'meritocracy' as a satirical warning in 1958 revisits the term after New Labour adopted it as a positive goal, and argues a society that tells losers they deserved to lose is crueller than one that never promised merit would be rewarded.
link checked 17 Sept 2026OECD
Finds that it would take four to five generations for a child born into a low-income family in most OECD countries to reach the average income, and argues that this 'sticky floor' undermines the meritocratic promise that effort determines outcomes.
link checked 17 Sept 2026