BOBBY-JOHN MYER DELA CRUZ

12-AYALA

Meritocracy is the concept that success and status in life are primarily determined by individual
abilities, skills, and efforts. In other words, it is a social system where people progress based on
their merits. That is why it is hard to acquire a job in a meritocratic country because of the
necessity for higher qualifications or a special requirement on their criteria other than their ability
to do the job. For example, if a business owner owns a Japanese restaurant, he may wish to
hire Japanese staff, or he may wish to hire staff who are already systematically disadvantaged
where some will argue that this is a meritocracy in which the best person for the job is chosen
and does not allow other staff but rather Japanese.

Lastly, social capital represents the quality of social relations or resources through creating
shared values and increasing contract enforcement by reducing information flows. Having high
social capital in a given place or workplace might also assist us to acquire a job. For example, in
the workplace, as we get to know people, they can help us grow better at our jobs. They can
also assist us to meet individuals who can help us gain a promotion, later on, resulting in
additional economic capital.