Meritocracy

A meritocracy (from Latin mereō, "to earn," and Ancient Greek κράτος, "strength, power") is a political or administrative system in which promotions are based on merit, rather than on friendship, seniority, quotas, liberal politics, or mob rule. The nature of "merit" is not easy to define, but it can be said to include natural ability, past experience, education, morality and overall suitability for the position. This question has, however, often been the object of debate, especially for what concerns the importance which is to be given to academic qualifications.