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Business Daily

Is the West really meritocratic?

Oct 15, 2019
Leading US academic and author, Daniel Markovits, challenges the meritocratic idea in the West, arguing it perpetuates inequality. Discussions on the role of elite schools in supporting disadvantaged students, efforts of top universities to diversify applicants, and positive discrimination in India. Exploring economic inequalities, educational challenges, and the myth of equal opportunity in the US.
18:26

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Quick takeaways

  • Meritocracy in the US fuels inequality, benefiting the affluent at the expense of others.
  • Affirmative action aims to level the education field for underprivileged students, promoting social mobility.

Deep dives

The Myth of Meritocracy in America

The podcast discusses the concept of meritocracy in the US and how economic inequality has led to a segmented class hierarchy. It highlights the challenges faced in the education system, where affluent families invest in expensive educations to gain advantage. The system favors the rich, leading to stark differences in academic performance based on economic status. The podcast questions the idea of the American Dream and the fairness of the meritocratic system.

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