Luck versus Effort

Those who are the best get ahead - success is based on individual performance. That, in a nutshell, is the formula of meritocracy. However, not everyone is convinced by this formula. Rebecca Wetter, research associate in the Department of Skill Formation and Labor Markets, conducts research at the WZB on the topic of meritocracy beliefs. We asked the researcher what effects the belief in meritocracy has on individuals and society. She was able to show an interesting pattern among applicants for medical school in Germany: Success reinforces the idea that admission to study was based on hard work. Those who were unsuccessful with their application, on the other hand, believe that admission was based on luck. However, success and failure also change ideas about social inequality in general, as Rebecca Wetter explains. For those who believe that success depends mainly on their own performance underestimate the influence of other factors such as social background.