ABSTRACT
The concentration of workers with high scores in intelligence tests in certain occupations, whether they are associated with technology, law, education, or finance, is presented as a precondition for long-term economic viability. “The more complex a society becomes,” state Richard J. Herrnstein and Charles Murray, “the more valuable are the people who are especially good at dealing with complexity.” Herrnstein and Murray believe that a meritocratic system, which rewards talent and hard work, is best placed to meet the needs of a technological society. They argue that their work provides a scientific basis to justify this belief. The influx of funding for science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) disciplines and the attempt to distribute these skills widely across the American population has become conventional wisdom in policy circles. The belief is that STEM skills are needed to ensure America remains competitive within the global economy.
