The Stickiness of Meritocratic Beliefs From Adolescence to Adulthood in Singapore

Abstract

The belief in meritocracy has been rising over the past few decades in developed countries. While many studies have focused on the belief in meritocracy, its distribution across groups and its effects, much less is known about how beliefs may change as individuals age and undergo major life transitions. Using linear growth models on three waves of panel data from a national youth survey in Singapore, we found that the major life transitions to adulthood – progressing through the education system (e.g., completing tertiary education), transiting from full-time studies to full-time work, getting married and becoming a parent – predicted only marginal intraindividual changes in meritocratic beliefs. Instead, linear growth models consistently pointed to strong starting beliefs amongst Singaporean youths which did not waver over time. These findings suggest that the belief in meritocracy is sticky once it is formed, which highlights the importance of how meritocratic discourse is framed in society.