Checks and Balance: Merit where it’s due

The belief that people should advance according to their abilities rather than family pedigree is one of history’s most revolutionary ideas. But the meritocratic ideal that has inspired Americans since Thomas Jefferson has lost its lustre. Social mobility has stalled and critics on both right and left see a country captured by self-serving elites. Can America’s meritocracy be mended?John Prideaux, US editor, hosts with Adrian Wooldridge, The Economist’s political editor and author of “The Aristocracy of Talent”, US policy correspondent Tamara Gilkes Borr and Jon Fasman, US digital editor. For full access to The Economist’s print, digital and audio editions, subscribe at economist.com/USpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Om Podcasten

Checks and Balance unlocks American politics by taking a big theme each week and digging into the data, the ideas, and the history shaping the country.Join John Prideaux, Charlotte Howard, Idrees Kahloon and Jon Fasman as they talk to politicians, pollsters, academics and people across the country about the great experiment of American democracy. Published every Friday.If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you’ll have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription.For more information about Economist Podcasts+, including how to get access, please visit our FAQs page here https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.