Are Elites Meritocratic and Efficiency-Seeking? Evidence from MBA Students
2025/03/19 by Marcel Preuss, Germán Reyes, Preuss, Marcel +5 · 17 voices
#econ.GN
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2503.15443
Abstract
Elites disproportionately influence policymaking, yet little is known about their fairness and efficiency preferences -- key determinants of support for redistributive policies. We investigate these preferences in an incentivized lab experiment with future elites: Ivy League MBA students. We find that MBA students implement substantially more unequal earnings distributions than the average American, regardless of whether inequality stems from luck or merit. Their redistributive choices are also far more responsive to efficiency costs than the near-zero response found in representative U.S. samples. These patterns partly reflect distinct fairness ideals: a large share of MBA students falls outside standard classifications, instead displaying "weak meritocratic" tendencies that tolerate inequality even when it stems from luck. These findings identify a channel through which elite preferences may sustain U.S. inequality.
Discussions
- Are elites meritocratic and efficiency-seeking? Evidence from MBA students [hn, 103 points, 73 comments]
- Business School students (MBAs) are less likely than the general population to reward merit and efficiency, creating conditions that make inequality worse. arxiv.org/abs/2503.15443 [bsky, 6 points, 0 comments]
- ".... These findings provide novel insights into how elites' redistributive preferences may shape high levels of inequality in the U.S." BTW I got myself a MBA after my MSc. This research does not ref [bsky, 3 points, 1 comments]
- Hey @theamazingkodi.bsky.social, research to back your mantra #MBAsRuinTheWorld "We find that MBA students implement substantially more unequal earnings distributions than the average American, regard [bsky, 2 points, 0 comments]
- Are Elites Meritocratic and Efficiency-Seeking? Evidence from MBA Students #elite #meritocracy #status #inequality [bsky, 1 points, 0 comments]
- Are Elites Meritocratic and Efficiency-Seeking? Evidence from MBA Students #HackerNews https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.15443 [bsky, 0 points, 0 comments]
- Are elites meritocratic and efficiency-seeking? Evidence from MBA students https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.15443 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45348421 [bsky, 0 points, 0 comments]
- Are Elites Meritocratic and Efficiency-Seeking? Evidence from MBA Students arxiv.org/abs/2503.15443 (news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4534...) [bsky, 0 points, 0 comments]
- Are Elites Meritocratic and Efficiency-Seeking? Evidence from MBA Students https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.15443 [comments] [9 points] [bsky, 0 points, 0 comments]
- [Ah, as elites e o mérito...] "We find that MBA students implement substantially more unequal earnings distributions than the average American, regardless of whether inequality stems from luck or meri [bsky, 0 points, 0 comments]
- Comme c'est curieux 🙈 @gabrielzucman.bsky.social @vivelefeu.bsky.social @edwyplenel.bsky.social arxiv.org/pdf/2503.15443 [bsky, 0 points, 0 comments]
- "MBA students are less likely to be strict meritocrats than the broader population" --> mba students more likely to think they earned everything in their life no matter how rich they daddys are? 😱 ar [bsky, 0 points, 0 comments]
- Are Elites Meritocratic and Efficiency-Seeking? Evidence from MBA Students https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.15443 [bsky, 0 points, 0 comments]
- Are Elites Meritocratic and Efficiency-Seeking? Evidence from MBA Students https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.15443 (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45348421) [bsky, 0 points, 0 comments]
- https://bsky.app/profile/buzzing.cc.web.brid.gy/post/3lzl2crc66bs2 [bsky, 0 points, 0 comments]
- Are Elites Meritocratic and Efficiency-Seeking? Evidence from MBA Students https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.15443 [bsky, 0 points, 0 comments]
- Are Elites Meritocratic and Efficiency-Seeking? Evidence from MBA Students [bsky, 0 points, 0 comments]
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