It Is on Me: The Trend and Consequences of Meritocracy in America

• In Event: Poster Session: Public Policy Preferences and Attitudes toward Democracy & European Politics and Society
  In Poster Session: Poster Session: Public Policy Preferences and Attitudes toward Democracy

Abstract

Do individuals still embrace the American Dream? This enduring notion stands as an iconic pillar of the country’s identity, drawing millions of immigrants annually. Yet, a debate persists on whether the American Dream is thriving or waning in the minds of the populace. This paper seeks to descriptively scrutinize the American Dream by tracing the long-term trend in meritocratic belief over several decades. Furthermore, it explores the political implications of meritocratic belief by examining the relationship between meritocratic belief and anti-establishment sentiment. This paper finds that Americans’ meritocratic belief has increased over time, but the rate of increase is declining and subgroups display distinctive patterns. Moreover, the study finds a significant association between meritocratic beliefs and anti-establishment sentiment, indicating that individuals with lower meritocratic beliefs are more likely to be anti-establishment than those with higher meritocratic beliefs, all else being equal.

Author

• Evelyn Jiyun Kim, University of California, Berkeley