The Peril of Merit: Destination and Origin Countries’ Meritocratic Climates and Immigrant Students' Educational Performance

• In Event: Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Educational Access, Achievement, and Schooling Experiences

Abstract

This study examines the roles of destination countries’ meritocratic climates on immigrant students’ educational performances. Results indicate that the meritocratic climate of destination countries has a significant negative effect on immigrant students' math performance, and the negative effect is greatest among students from origin countries with lower meritocratic climates. The interaction between origin and destination’s cultural climate is most pronounced among students from the lowest socioeconomic backgrounds. Moreover, the educational advantage of second-generation immigrants over native students disappears and first-generation immigrant students perform significantly worse than native students only in countries with high meritocratic climates. Lastly, in countries with high meritocratic climates, growing homogeneity in meritocratic belief is accompanied by exacerbated SES education inequality.

Author

• Siyun Gan, University of Wisconsin - Madison