Chang-Hee Kim,

School of Management and Communication Republic Polytechnic,

Singapore, Singapore,

jk.jaydenkim@gmail.com

HOW MERITOCRACY IS DEFINED TODAY?: CONTEMPORARY ASPECTS OF MERITOCRACY

Yong-Beom Choi,

Division of Social Welfare Baekseok Arts University, Seoul, Republic of Korea,

ybchoi@bau.ac.kr

Abstract. This study aimed to develop a deeper understanding of contemporary aspects of meritocracy based on a qualitative meta-synthesis of the scholarly literature. Eighteen empirical studies of meritocracy in various disciplines were reviewed for this study. Thematic analysis revealed three main higher-order themes with six sub-themes that described the characteristics of meritocracy today. The findings present an overview of the current issues considered by meritocracy studies and provide a foundation for the ongoing debate over the necessary conditions for a better meritocracy.

Received: July, 2016

1st Revision: October, 2016

Accepted: December, 2016

DOI: 10.14254/2071- 789X.2017/10-1/8

JEL Classification: D63, I24

Keywords: meritocracy, equality of opportunity, qualitative meta-synthesis, thematic analysis, Singapore.