Excellence vs. equality : can society achieve both goals? / Allan C. Ornstein.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ornstein, Allan C., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Equality.

Common good.

Income distribution.

Social stratification.

Social mobility.

Educational mobility.

Physical Description:

ix, 188 pages ; 23 cm

Other Title:

Excellence versus equality

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Routledge, 2016.

Summary:

Excellence vs Equality: Can Society Achieve Both Goals? explores the issues faced by societies attempting to preserve democratic ideals and the common good in an era of incommensurate wealth and opportunity. As differences in advantage and ability affect the relationships between institutions and the people who comprise them, the book argues that political and social compromise is needed to prevent economic inequality from threatening the well-being and mobility of the less able and less fortunate. Topics include globalization, technology, innovation, talent and meritocracy, higher education, big business, labor unions, and social justice within educational and workplace settings. The author raises perennial and ever-prescient questions regarding how to balance excellence and equality, and how to reduce inequality around the world. Book jacket.

Contents:

1 The Search for Talent 10

Geography and "Smart" Thinking 11

Reaffirming the Best and Brightest 13

A Changing World: Globalization and Technology 19

Brain Drain Counts 22

Tech Companies and Tech Workers 27

Talented Workers and Big Data 29

The New American Dream 32

Centers of Creativity 35

Conclusion 38

2 Excellence, Equality and Education 40

Definitions and Labels 41

The Early Role of the Schools 42

The Common School Movement 44

The Conservative Perspective 46

IQ Testing and Sorting 48

Do Schools Make a Difference? 53

Tire Coleman Report 54

The Jencks Study 56

The Duncan Model 58

The Unaccounted Factors: Luck 60

Aptitude vs. Achievement 62

Education and Economic Opportunity 67

Conclusion 70

3 Socio-Economic Class and Mobility 71

Measures of Inequality 73

A Just Society 74

Power, Privilege and Elite Institutions 79

A Change in Meritocracy 84

Excellence vs. Equality 85

Educational Opportunity and Mobility 87

Economic Opportunity: Old Ideas, New Ideas 89

Different Talents, Different Rewards 91

The Role of Government 93

Merit and Achievement 95

Merit and Human Capital 98

Winning at All Costs 101

Conclusion 104

4 Innovation and Human Capital 107

Outsourcing Middle-Class Jobs 108

The Global Village 110

Tech Society, Tech Expertise 112

The Role of Innovation 117

China and India-and the Future 123

The Rise of Asia 127

Growing Inequality in America 129

Conclusion 136

5 Beyond Excellence: The Rich, Super-Rich and the Rest of Us 136

The Value of a College Education 139

Hard Work, Competition and Free Markets 144

Fat Cats: Old Money vs. New Money 147

Wealth vs. Work 153

Ruling the World 157

Hard Times for Labor 159

Profits vs. Wages 160

Where the U. S. Is Heading 165.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781138940895

1138940895

9781138940901

1138940909

OCLC:

912378883