Family Matters in a Meritocracy: Networks and Officialdom in the Joseon Dynasty

• In Event: The Ones that Never Knock: Opportunities for Career Advancement and Corruption

Abstract

How do family networks influence social mobility in a meritocracy? Climbing the ladder of success may be fraught with nepotism and corruption, especially in monarchies where connections can trump talent. In such context, a merit-based selection of government officials may serve as a remedy to curb these negative outcomes. In this paper, we investigate the effects of family networks on the assignment of official positions during the Joseon Dynasty from 1392 to 1897 CE. Similar to the civil service examination system in China, the Korean kingdom implemented literary examinations intended to fill central official positions based on merit. We use an individually linked database of successful candidates and their family members from the rosters of literary examination and official position information. We find that those from more connected predecessors in the network had significantly higher likelihoods of occupying high-level rank positions after passing the exams, controlling for age and ranking at the examination as proxies of initial ability. In light of the persistent family network influence, we evaluate the efficacy of examination systems under autocracies, their impact on state performance, as well as changing social-hierarchies among the ruling elites over time.

Author

• Christopher Paik, New York University Abu Dhabi