People justify income inequality through education’s effort, time, and responsibility

Evidence

What is it about education that justifies differences in income? In the above interviews it is clear that education is thought to increase skills which should be suitably rewarded. Furthermore, it appears that the time necessary for educational preparation deserves some reward—a recurrent theme. With education goes responsibility—and responsibility should be rewarded. But there is also some suggestion in the interview material that the pain and hard (unpleasant) work associated with going to school deserves compensation. People who did not like school themselves may be paying homage to those who could stick it out. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2221

Categorization

• SEED: Could be an essay angle: the psychology of meritocracy — how people who hated school still sanctify the credential, paying homage retroactively to those who endured it.
• XREF: connects to: The meritocracy myth masks structural inequality and justifies tech wealth — Alice E. Marwick, Status Update: Celebrity, Publicity,…, 673; Meritocratic theory attributes income inequality to unequal skill distribution. — Samuel Bowles and Herbert Gintis, Schooling in Capitalist America:…, 316