# Meritocratic State Transitions By:: [[Brian Heath]] 2023-03-27 I recently came across a study from Sweden that showed intelligent people make more money than less intelligent people up to a certain point. After that point, people of average intelligence make more money. While there are many caveats in this study (only studying men and the type of intelligence test given, etc.), it highlights an important system dynamic: an ideal meritocracy always falls apart. There is no perfect system. In this study, the meritocracy ideal is that smarter people rise to the top and make more money. However, after a certain point, smarter people make less money and proportionally occupy fewer upper-level jobs because many aren't willing to risk it or pay the price. At the lower ranks, intelligence makes it easier to rise to the top. Beyond that point, many sacrifices must be made such as foregoing spending time with your family or starting a business that is likely to fail. If you are of average intelligence, you can't compete in the intelligence meritocracy at the lower levels. Your only chance is to go where many intelligent people will not go. If you have a comfortable life that you've obtained by being intelligent, it's less likely that you'll leap given the odds and cost. Yet, we view those with the most amount of money as being the most intelligent. Some certainly are, but many more are not. The life you and I live in the lower ranks does not translate to the high ranks. It's an entirely different game, and we need to realize this or risk making fatal errors in judgment. Spend time examining the system and the games being played. Do not assume what you know is the only way of being. Beware of state transitions. What you think is water may be a bunch of hot air. #### Related Items [[Meritocracy]] [[Work]] [[Wealth]] [[Thinking]] [[Systems Thinking]]