Rise of Meritocracy in Poland: 1982–2008

摘要

The article examines whether social stratification in Poland follows the conceptual framework developed by theorists of the market transition in post-communist countries regarding returns to human capital and merits related to occupational achievements. This analysis extends an earlier study by using national surveys spanning from 1982 to 2008. Data analyses support hypotheses that market-like reforms changes the mode of allocating rewards in favour of greater incentives to meritocracy and individual attainments. First, in Poland the rise of meritocracy began in the 1980s and continued until 2000s, indicated by increase in returns to university education. Second, the rise in meritocracy was paralleled by growing benefits to managers and professionals. Third, privatization of the economy distinguishes workers into private and state sectors, with income advantage being more pronounced in the private sector. Market mechanisms in the Polish private sector dictate more rational and efficient allocation of rewards based on workers' productivity. According with previous studies, basically in China, market mechanisms in Poland, residing in private sector, appear to dictate more rational and efficient allocation of rewards based on workers' productivity.