ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the relationship between education, global and national labor markets and meritocracy. It is argued that changes in economic globalization and technology have broken many of the rungs in the ladder that policy-makers have assumed those with the education, ability and motivation can ascend. This is no longer even true for university graduates. The debate on how to achieve meritocracy has focused on education, but despite its persistent inequalities, the major problem lies with dysfunctional labor markets. Under these conditions, the promise of meritocracy is empty. Education should not be exclusively focused on enabling students to get good jobs, but should also address the fundamental problems posed by climate change and the threat to democracy.
