Press

Can campus diversity counter the myth of meritocracy?
Futurity, July 26, 2023

“Diversity on college campuses is crucial for shaping beliefs and learning about peers in a divided nation, writes Jonathan Mijs. Mijs is an assistant professor of sociology at Boston University. His research focuses on the growing economic gap and why it has left many people unconcerned. Here, he describes his recent study, published in Research in Social Stratification and Mobility, on how people’s understandings of meritocracy evolve during college: In recent research, I set out to study how college students in the US—growing up in a country defined by inequality and segregation—learn about their society. I traced beliefs about inequality in 10 cohorts of US college students between 1998 and 2010, totaling 141,597 students across 436 institutions. My findings suggest that the college context deeply shapes students’ understanding of structural inequality and racism.” Read more.

Learning about inequality in unequal America
Work In Progress blog American Sociological Association, June 22, 2023

“The joint growth of income segregation and inequality across Western nations calls attention to the changing conditions of life on each end of the growing divide. Alongside the material consequences of this process, there is an important cognitive aspect: as social worlds become increasingly divided by socioeconomic fault lines, how do we learn about the lives of others? Sociologists are beginning to address this question by describing how people make sense of inequality. Understanding how we perceive and explain inequality is important because our beliefs, in turn, are predictive of a host of political attitudes on topics ranging from healthcare to redistribution and the welfare state.” Read more.

Je droombaan dankzij je BN'er ouders: 'Nepobaby's vinden hun privileges vanzelfsprekend' (Dutch)
NPO Brandpunt, March 6, 2024

"Volgens dr. Jonathan Mijs, socioloog aan Boston University en de Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam, kan de weerstand die nepobaby’s bij veel mensen oproept worden verklaard door de waarde die we hechten aan het ‘meritocratische ideaal’. “Dat is een samenleving waarin de beste mensen vanzelf op de juiste posities komen en waarin ze hun succes enkel aan hun talenten en inspanningen te danken hebben. Mijs vervolgt: “De term nepobaby impliceert dat het succes van een persoon niet te danken is aan hun eigen handelen, inspanningen, talenten, en dergelijke, maar eerder aan nepotisme - aan de sociale positie van hun ouders of familieleden. Een nepobaby krijgt vaak allerlei kansen en privileges die zij niet verdienen op basis van zijn eigen verdiensten, maar eerder vanwege de status van zijn ouders.” Read more.

Waarom radicaal-rechts wint? ‘Als verlies van status dreigt, klampen mensen zich vast aan nationalisme (Dutch)
De Volkskrant, January 9, 2024

“De Nederlandse socioloog Jonathan Mijs, die aan de universiteit van Boston werkt, deed daar interessant onderzoek naar. Hij liet zien dat een toegenomen inkomensongelijkheid in veel Europese landen, waaronder ook Nederland, de afgelopen decennia juist gepaard ging met een duidelijke toename van het geloof in meritocratie. Ook al vinden Europeanen zichzelf lang niet zo individualistisch als Amerikanen: wat ik beschrijf is dus niet alleen een Amerikaans verhaal. Ook jullie houden van neoliberalisme en mensen met een hogere opleiding. Misschien niet in dezelfde mate als in de VS, maar het ontbreekt absoluut aan erkenning voor praktisch opgeleiden, vergeleken met de waarde die mensen hechten aan diploma’s.” Read more or click for PDF.

Niet zelf gedaan (Dutch)
VARAGIDS 46, November 3, 2022

“Mijs ziet de tv-aandacht (‘het verschuift van de armoede-porno van De Tokkies naar meer berichtgeving over ongelijkheid zelf’) wel als achterstallig onderhoud. Want de kiem voor de ongelijkheid die we nu ervaren, werd veertig jaar geleden al gelegd. ‘De daadwerkelijke inkomens- en vermogensongelijkheid groeit al sinds de jaren 80, de vermogensongelijkheid in Nederland is vergelijkbaar met die in Amerika. Na veertig jaar staan we met alle media-aandacht pas stil bij iets wat zich decennia geleden heeft voltrokken. En intussen blijven Nederlanders denken dat ze in een soort egalitair, progressief en tolerant land wonen. Maar hoe meer onderzoek we doen, hoe meer dat zelfbeeld wordt uitgekleed.“ Click for PDF.

Waarom hangen we opeens overal allerlei vlaggen op? (Dutch)
Het Parool, September 3, 2022

"Volgens experts is de vlag uithangen iets activistisch (zie kader). Binnen de groep die dezelfde vlag uithangt heerst saamhorigheid en tegelijkertijd zet de groep zich af tegen mensen die niet vlaggen of een andere vlag voeren. Wat moet bijvoorbeeld de enige inwoner van een plattelandsdorp die niet de urgentie voelt de omgekeerde Nederlandse vlag uit te hangen? Of ouders die de vlag enkel willen uithangen omdat hun kind is geslaagd? In Amsterdam laten al die vlaggen de diversiteit zien, maar ook de keiharde sociaal-economische segregatie die de stad kenmerkt, stelt de Amsterdamse socioloog Jonathan Mijs. "Die toont zich niet altijd in het straatbeeld. De vlaggen maken de spanningen wel zichtbaar en onvermijdelijk." Read more or click for PDF.

De meritocratische tirannie (Dutch)
De Groene Amsterdammer, May 4, 2022

“Het is weliswaar in Nederland nog geen 2034, maar het moment van ontmaskering komt met rasse schreden naderbij. Het maatschappelijk ongenoegen onder de praktisch geschoolden is groot en groeiend, zo laten de surveys van het Sociaal en Cultureel Planbureau keer op keer zien. De kloof tussen praktisch en theoretisch geschoolden, in termen van levensstijl, culturele voorkeuren, mediaconsumptie, werk en inkomen, woon- en gezondheidssituatie, en zelfs woonplaats (Randstad versus de rest), dreigt onoverbrugbaar te worden, zoals René Cuperus en Josse de Voogd in hun Atlas van afgehaakt Nederland laten zien. In de woorden van de Nederlandse socioloog Jonathan Mijs: de een gaat naar de markt en de ander gaat naar Marqt, en nooit komen ze elkaar tegen. Terwijl het wantrouwen in politiek en bestuur, juist doordat de politieke en bestuurlijke functies vrijwel uitsluitend worden vervuld door theoretisch geschoolden, nog nooit zo groot is geweest. Gecombineerd met veertig jaar falen van de expertocratie is dat een brisante cocktail.” Read more.

Britain is falling harder for the myth of Molly-Mae meritocracy
The New Statesman, April 7, 2022

“The discrepancy between belief in (80 per cent) and experience of (26 per cent) social mobility is “striking” in our polling, said Jonathan Mijs, assistant professor of sociology at Boston University, who specialises in perceptions of meritocracy and inequality. “This means that many people maintain a belief in meritocracy, mobility and opportunity even if those things haven’t quite worked out for themselves,” he said. “Beliefs and lived experiences are quite disconnected. Perhaps they believe they will climb the ladder at some future time, or maybe their belief stems from the many stories of upward mobility that reach them through social media, TV and film; the exceptions to the rule that keep their hopes alive.” Read more.

Gelauwerde socioloog Jonathan Mijs: we leven in een heel erg ongelijk land (Dutch)
Het Parool, February 14, 2022

“De een gaat naar de markt, de ander naar de Marqt - en zo komen elkaar nooit tegen. Het is een wat gechargeerd voorbeeld, maar de realiteit is dat we steeds meer gescheiden leven en minder vaak mensen treffen die op een andere trede van de maatschappelijke ladder staan. "We zijn het er allemaal over eens dat ongelijkheid een belangrijk thema is," zegt socioloog Jonathan Mijs. "Er is veel aandacht voor. Kijk naar de fantastische serie Klassen en naar Sander en de Kloof. Ze brengen, zoals sociaal wetenschappers al decennia doen, de gevolgen van de groeiende economische ongelijkheid in kaart. Vorig jaar ben ik na jaren onderzoek naar ongelijkheid een ander pad ingeslagen: ik onderzoek hoe mensen zelf over ongelijkheid denken en wat hun denkbeelden voedt.“ Read more or click for PDF.

Racial and economic inequality persists. Why do many people deny it?
MarketWatch, January 26, 2022

“Between the 1980s and 2010, a period during which the gap between the wealthy and the rest of the country widened, Americans actually came to believe that their society functioned more like a meritocracy, according to research from Jonathan Mijs, an assistant professor of sociology at Boston University. Part of that discrepancy between public opinion and reality can be explained by the prominence of the American dream, or the idea that if you work hard in school and at your job you can achieve success, Mijs said. Americans’ strong belief in that idea means that wealth can often come across as deserved, he said. The question then becomes: How could this belief in meritocracy be sustained in the context of growing inequalities?” Read more.

Wakkere Wetenschapper Jonathan Mijs (Dutch)
De Nacht van NTR, January 13, 2022

'“Voor de graveyard shift van NPO Radio 1 slaan vijf omroepen de handen ineen. De NTR, EO, KRO-NCRV, BNNVARA en Omroep ZWART nemen elk één nacht voor hun rekening. Jonge makers creëren nachtradio waar je wakker van ligt, met onderwerpen waar je wakker voor wilt blijven. Zowel onvoorspelbaar als kwetsbaar, met een intimiteit die alleen de nacht kan bieden. In ‘De Nacht van…’ krijgen studiogasten nog écht de ruimte voor hun verhaal en als luisteraar kan je elke uitzending meepraten. Maak kennis met Nederlanders van over de hele wereld en luister naar de mooiste audioverhalen van NPO Radio 1.”

La mejor tesis del año es de este nazareno y muestra por qué la meritocracia no funciona (Spanish)
El Confidencial, October 19, 2021

"Sin embargo, el término 'meritocracia' es cada vez más popular, recuerda Gil. Jonathan Mijs mostró en un trabajo cómo la creencia en la meritocracia en las sociedades desarrolladas ha aumentado en las últimas décadas, especialmente desde los años noventa, y a pesar de que en ese mismo periodo de tiempo la desigualdad económica también se ha disparado. España es uno de los casos más agudos. Otro de los estudios de Mijs señala que, paradójicamente, en los países con mayores desigualdades se tiende a creer aún más en la meritocracia. “Es curiosa esa distorsión cognitiva”, valora Gil. “La tesis es que las clases altas y las trabajadoras están tan lejos en términos de ingresos que ni siquiera son conscientes del nivel de desigualdad, y creen que es mucho más fácil llegar arriba”." Read more.

How The Growing Economic Divide Prevents Us From Learning About Others' Lives
Wisconsin Public Radio, September 30, 2021

It's easier than ever to stay in your bubble -- maybe without even realizing it. We talk with Jonathan Mijs about why our socioeconomic standings are starting to make it so that we have little idea about what life is like on the other side. Listen to the episode.

Guess How Many People Worked From Home Last Year
The Atlantic, September 20, 2021

"Human beings tend to believe that other people are like us, that our thoughts and opinions are more common than they actually are, the sociologists I interviewed for this story told me. But when I answered that question so wrong back in March, I felt a pang of embarrassment; I was out of touch. “People don’t have a great sense anymore of what the lives of others across the economic divide look like,” Jonathan J. B. Mijs, a sociology professor at Boston University, told me." Read more.

Inequality, Social Mobility and Meritocracy. Inequalities podcast Future Framed TV. June 29, 2021.

“Do we live in bubbles? This is the podcast Episode 46 of Inequalities - A series hosted by Dr. Alice Krozer. In this episode, Alice speaks with Dr. Jonathan Mijs, Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellow at Erasmus University in Rotterdam, and lecturer in sociology at Harvard University. Jonathan is an expert on how people perceive and explain inequalities. He explains how the formation of these beliefs is anchored in our individual surroundings, why people overestimate social mobility, what meritocracy has to do with it, and if there can be a future where everybody knows more about people different from themselves.”

La meritocracia y otros mecanismos psicológicos que sirven de excusa contra los impuestos (Spanish)
El País. February 13, 2021.

“Cuando la vida te sonríe, es fácil fijarse en los méritos y olvidar las ventajas que se disfrutan frente a quienes pierden. “Esto ayuda a explicar cómo la desigualdad económica ha podido crecer tanto”, explica Jonathan Mijs, de la Universidad de Harvard: “Cuando las personas entienden el éxito y el fracaso en términos meritocráticos, son el resultado merecido de un proceso justo y equitativo”. “ Read more or click for PDF.

Beyond Merit: The Limits of Meritocracy
Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, Harvard University

This is a recording of the February 10, 2021, Weatherhead Forum, with the following speakers:

• Steffen Mau, Humboldt University

• Jonathan Mijs, Harvard University

• Michael Sandel, Harvard University

• Michèle Lamont, Harvard University

Pandemia e crise devem elevar desigualdade global (Portuguese)
Valor Economico. April 29, 2020

“Não sabemos quantas vidas essa pandemia levará, mas as epidemias passadas nos dizem que há uma ligação estreita entre desigualdade e mortalidade”, diz Jonathan Mijs, sociólogo da Universidade Harvard. “Minha esperança é que esta crise revele as vulnerabilidades de nossos países e mostre às pessoas que estamos tão a salvo quanto os membros mais vulneráveis de nossa comunidade. Pode ser um verdadeiro apelo à ação.” Read more or click for PDF.

Meritocracy, egalitarianism and inequality
Culture and inequality podcast. December 10, 2020.

De ongelijkheid in de Verenigde Staten (Dutch)
NPO Radio 1 VPRO Bureau Buitenland, July 1, 2020

“De corona-pandemie zet het leven in de hele wereld op zijn kop. De gevolgen van de virusuitbraak zijn tot nu toe ongekend, verstrekkend en nog lang niet voorbij. Daarom gaat Bureau Buitenland in deze serie op onderzoek uit. Van plek naar plek. Een serie over wat een wereld met corona ons te bieden heeft.In het vijfde deel spreken we Jonathan Mijs, als socioloog verbonden aan de Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam. Hij vraagt zich af waar de publieke verontwaardiging blijft over de groeiende sociale ongelijkheid in de Verenigde Staten. Een ongelijkheid die door de pandemie nog veel scherper zichtbaar wordt.” Listen to the episode.

5 lessons from the coronavirus about inequality in America
The Conversation, April 27, 2020

"The coronavirus is a global threat, but the pandemic has an uneven impact across the U.S. It exacerbates existing inequalities and creates new challenges. I think this crisis can teach several important lessons about inequality in America: how it hurts, who it hurts the most, why that’s the case and what can be done about it." Read more.

Britain’s highest-earners are more likely to believe their salary is the result of “hard work”
New Statesman, January 22, 2020

"'We also know from international, representative research that people with higher social class positions are more likely to hold meritocratic beliefs.' Indeed, other research by Jonathan Mijs of the London School of Economics (LSE) shows that despite rising income inequality, this has not been accompanied by a rise in concern over inequality – this 'inequality paradox' is also seen in internationally comparative data that shows meritocratic beliefs are stronger in more unequal countries." Read more.

Why do people tolerate income inequality?
Harvard Business Review, Novermber 20, 2019

“According to the latest work by Harvard sociologist Jonathan J. B. Mijs, this income inequality puzzle can be explained in part by evidence showing that people’s belief in meritocracy (i.e., that income differences stem from differences in effort, not in luck) often goes hand in hand with the level of income inequality in a society. It seems that people in the most unequal societies, irrespective of whether they are from the working class, the lower middle class, or the upper middle class, are more likely to believe that the rich are rich because they worked hard for their income, while the poor are poor because of a lack of trying.” Read more.

Psychology of wealth: Do rich people deserve to be rich?
Financial Times, June 19, 2019

“Here’s a topical question. Do rich people deserve to be rich? If so, how rich? You might think this is worth asking because concern about inequality is growing everywhere. But actually, this is not true. Although inequality is growing in many western countries, concern about it is not. In fact, according to new research by Jonathan Mijs, a sociologist at the International Inequalities Institute at the London School of Economics, inequality and belief in meritocracy may go hand in hand. The more unequal a society, the more likely people are to believe the rich have earned it..” Read more.

Why you don't care about inequality
TEDx London 2019: Beyond Borders, May 18, 2019

“Ours is a deeply unequal society. The level of income inequality today we haven’t seen since the Great Depression of the 1920s and 30s. In recent decades, economic growth has been captured by a small segment of society, whose fortunes have grown at a much faster pace than the rest of us. To the point where the top 10 percent today takes in a third of all income and two-thirds of all wealth. Now, this dramatic rise in inequality has not gone unnoticed. What is striking however is how despite all the attention, people just aren’t that worried about inequality.” Click for video.

The US shows the unequal world we are heading for – and we don’t seem to care
LSE American Politics and policy blog, May 28, 2019

“Income inequality is on the rise, a fact which many academics and commentators suggest is an important part of the election of populist figures like Donald Trump. And yet, studies show that people are actually becoming less concerned about inequality as it increases. In new research, Jonathan Mijs describes how inequality has reshaped the social landscape and how, as a result, many people are unaware of inequality’s true extent and believe that society is meritocratic – meaning that they feel that inequality is people’s own fault for not working hard enough.” Read more.

Dat mensen nu ageren tegen islam is arbitrair (Dutch)
De Kanttekening, May 27, 2019

"Het zijn niet zozeer slechte economische omstandigheden of zorgen hierover die mensen naar populistisch-rechts drijven, stelt socioloog Jonathan Mijs (London School of Economics). Nee: het is de vermarkting van de maatschappij, de toenemende ongelijkheid en de daaruit ontstane segregatie van leefwerelden, die een ‘meritocratische afrekening’ met minderheden teweegbrengt. ‘Om hun eigenwaarde hoog te houden, gaan slechtverdienende blanke Nederlanders zich verheven voelen boven nieuwe Nederlanders.’" Read more.

The radical right’s rise in Europe isn’t fueled by economic grievances
Washington Post, The Monkey Cage, May 24, 2019

"Will populist parties gain ground during this week’s European Parliament elections? Radical right-wing parties are polling well, but how will they fare now that the economy is picking up in Europe? Their success in the elections is a test of the conventional wisdom that economic crisis breeds radical politics. Our research gives reason for doubt." Read more.

Jonathan Mijs over radicaal stemgedrag tijdens de economische crisis (Dutch)
Stuk Rood Vlees podcast, April 25, 2019

“Economische crises schaden politiek vertrouwen en leiden nog wel eens tot electoraal succes voor populistische partijen. Maar wie stemt er in crisistijd precies op radicaal-linkse of radicaal-rechtse partijen? Jonathan Mijs is onderzoeker aan de London School of Economics en hij onderzocht samen met Noam Gidron of inkomensverlies tijdens de economische crisis in Nederland een effect had op stemvoorkeuren voor de SP en PVV. Zijn bevindingen leggen nogal een bom onder het hoefijzermodel van politieke competitie dat uitgaat van grote gelijkenissen tussen radicaal-rechts en radicaal-links….”

The gulf between the rich and poor is widening – we just can't see it
The Independent, January 28, 2019

"Inequality is on the rise in Britain, as it is across most of the West. Since the 1980s, income gains have been concentrated among the top 1 per cent, whose economic fortunes have grown at a much faster pace than the rest of society. The top 10 per cent of households now take home about a third of all income, and own two-thirds of all wealth. This widening gap between the haves and have-nots increasingly preoccupies scholars and journalists, and policymakers, all the way to the World Economic Forum in Davos. Curiously, however, the evidence suggests that few citizens share these concerns. In fact, people in some of the most unequal societies seem to be the least worried about inequality." Read more.

How the right tricked people into supporting rampant inequality
The Guardian, January 24, 2019

"Those on the progressive left have been perplexed that rising social injustice hasn’t led to much sign of the oppressed rising up, either at the ballot box or through more physical acts of protest. New research out on Wednesday suggests some explanations – though these will be of precious little comfort. Looking at surveys across 23 western countries since the 1980s, Dr Jonathan Mijs of the London School of Economics International Inequalities Institute monitors how, as countries become less equal, attitudes of the majority shift in the wrong direction." Read more.

Why don’t we care about growing inequality?
Center for Labour and Social Studies blog, November 11, 2018

"We are witnessing a surge in news reporting and scholarly interest in inequality. Most people now know some stylized facts about the unequal distribution of income and wealth. Throughout the West, the top 10 percent takes home a third of all income and owns two-thirds of all wealth. The United Kingdom is no exception. So, how has the other 90 percent responded? What's striking is the absence of large-scale public unrest, mass demonstrations, revolt. For most people, inequality is business as usual." Read more.

Inequality is getting worse, but fewer people than ever are aware of it
The Conversation, May 2, 2017

"Inequality in America is on the rise. Income gains since the 1980s have been concentrated at the top. The top 10 percent today take home 30 percent of all income, and control over three-quarters of all wealth. We have returned to the level of income inequality that marked the Great Depression of the 1920s and 1930s. Who gets what in America continues to be impacted by a person’s race, gender and family resources. What’s striking, however, is how little people seem to notice." Read more.

PISA, Internalizing Failure, and Barriers to Deeper Learning
Education Week, February 6, 2017

"World rankings like the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) have emerged as the litmus test on how schools are and are not helping students succeed. Politicians, educators, and specialists dwell on American students' laggard position or Singapore's success. But what do students think of their own performance? Comparing 128,000 students across 24 nations in Asia, Europe, and North America revealed that students' responses were only loosely connected to the country in which a student lives, their school's resources, or that student's social background. Rather, these students' attributions of failure show a close correlation to the way a student's school is organized." Read more.

European data suggests the gig economy helped create Trump, Sanders
The Conversation, May 17, 2016

"Politicians and pundits in America wonder where the rip-roaring popularity of protest candidates Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders originated. The answer may lie in Europe. Trump and Sanders, in defying conventional political expectations, follow a long list of European populist leaders. Regarding the rise of Trump and Sanders as extraordinary events risks mystifying them. It also fails to acknowledge the powerful forces these politicians thrive on. Looking more closely at the rise of populism in Europe over the past two decades gives us a better understanding of today’s American politics and the forces driving protest politics’ success." Read more.