The belief that societal resources are distributed based solely on individual merit is called what?

• A. Myth of meritocracy
• B. Meritocracy myth
• C. Merit-based fairness
• D. Talent-first principle

Answer: (A)

The idea tested is that resources and opportunities in society are handed out purely based on individual merit, ignoring any unequal starting points or barriers. The standard label for critiquing this belief is the myth of meritocracy—that the merit-based story doesn’t hold up in real life because factors like access to education, networks, bias, and privilege shape outcomes as much as, or more than, talent and effort. This framing helps explain why outcomes aren’t simply a fair reflection of merit and why policies must address systemic inequalities, not just individual effort. While some may phrase it as “meritocracy myth,” the commonly used term is “the myth of meritocracy,” which captures the critical stance toward a purely merit-based distribution of resources.