The Matthew Effect: Why Success Leads to More Success (and How to Avoid the Vicious Cycle)

Table of Contents

• The Matthew Effect: Why Success Leads to More Success (and How to Avoid the Vicious Cycle)
• What is the Matthew Effect?
• Examples of the Matthew Effect in Action
  • Education
  • Wealth and Finance
  • Career Growth
  • Science and Academia
  • Sports
• Negative Consequences of the Matthew Effect
• Mitigating the Negative Consequences of the Matthew Effect
• Conclusion

  The Matthew Effect: Why Success Leads to More Success (and How to Avoid the Vicious Cycle)

Have you ever stopped to think why it seems like success comes easier to some people than to others? It is not necessarily a result of inborn talent or conscientious effort. Most frequently, a phenomenon known as the “Matthew Effect” is operating. This idea, concisely put by the phrase “the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer,” captures how initial advantages can snowball and create an expanding gap between the haves and have-nots. Being aware of the Matthew Effect is essential to create equity and make opportunities available to all to be successful.

What is the Matthew Effect?

The “Matthew Effect” was christened by sociologist Robert Merton in 1968 in reference to the Bible verse Matthew 25:29: “For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.”

In a sense, the Matthew Effect describes a self-reinforcing loop in which initial advantages, no matter how small, yield snowball advantages later. People who start off with greater chances, resources, or status will end up acquiring even more, while those starting with less end up falling farther and farther behind. This is not necessarily due to evil motive or systemic bias (though those can certainly enhance the effect), but a natural consequence of how systems and networks function.

Examples of the Matthew Effect in Action

The Matthew Effect is everywhere and can be observed in many domains:

Education: Children who learn to read young and enjoy doing so tend to read more and expand their vocabulary and knowledge bank, becoming enhanced learners in the process, with improved doors of higher learning avenues ahead. The children who can’t read early are most likely to dislike reading and read less and fall behind as they grow up, closing future learning doors on themselves.

“Two children are being taught the piano. One receives excellent lessons from an excellent teacher and access to a well-maintained piano. The other receives erratic, less controlled lessons and practices on a malfunctioning, out-of-tune piano. The eldest will most likely develop much earlier and be more enthusiastic about music, which creates even more chances for development. The second will become frustrated and give up, not being able to appreciate musical education.”

Wealth and Finance: Individuals who inherit money or possess access to funds are better positioned to invest and generate even greater wealth. They can afford to be risky, consult professionals, and weather economic crises more easily. Individuals with less financial capability struggle to save, pay higher costs for borrowing, and are more vulnerable to economic shocks, which makes it difficult to escape the poverty trap.

“Take the case of two entrepreneurs who want to start an enterprise. One of them possesses a lot of money to invest in marketing, product research, and acquiring well-trained employees. The other person must bootstrap his/her business on very little. The first one is much likely to succeed with a greater following of customers, investors, and quality employees. The second entrepreneur is fighting against a mountain that makes it tough to compete and expand the company.”

Career Growth: Early-promoted and recognized employees are likely to be given challenging assignments, better training, and exposure to senior managers. This exposure helps them gain new skills, enhance their reputation, and continue to develop in their career. The unrecognized or out-group employees may lack access to such benefits, thus limiting their career growth.

“Suppose there are two software developers who have been recruited on the same date by the same organization. They exhibit their competencies immediately and receive appreciation from their supervisor. They are then given to work on an elite project and provided with exposure to new technologies. The other programmer while being equally proficient but less assured, is allocated to routine works and receives comparatively lesser appreciation. The initial developer is gaining valuable experience and progressing rapidly, but the second developer is not advancing beyond where they are.”

Science and Academia: Scientists who release substantial papers at a young point of their career tend to get funds, receive talented students, and become popular within their field. This will make them perform additional research, author more papers, and further advance their standing. Scientists who are unable to find early prominence will tend to encounter difficulties obtaining money and enhancing their careers irrespective of the quality of work.

“Take the case of an early-stage scientist making a ground-breaking discovery in their life. Due to that, they keep making heavy contributions in their profession. Another researcher, who also finds something but not as much, has trouble securing funds and quality researchers, thus constraining their ability to advance their research.”

Sports: Athletes with great potential when they are young have the advantage of expert training, better practice equipment, and increased exposure to competitive play. Such advantages during young life allow developing athletes to develop their talents and reach their full potential faster.

“Take two junior soccer players who are equally gifted. One gets selected for an elite-level junior academy, where they are taught by professionals and play against professional-level opponents. The other joins a local league team with lesser coaches and equipment. The one in the academy will improve more rapidly and get a better chance to play at the professional level.”

Negative Consequences of the Matthew Effect

Though the Matthew Effect can stimulate growth and innovation by rewarding success, it is also marked by several negative consequences:

• Increased Inequality: The Matthew Effect works to spread apart the poor and the wealthy, the illiterate and the educated, and the successful and the unsuccessful. It puts means and opportunities in the hands of a select few and leaves many out.
• Reduced Social Mobility: If initial advantages accrue over a lifetime, then it is harder for those in low-resource circumstances to move up the social ladder. The Matthew Effect has the ability to create an unchanging social hierarchy where starting position early in life determines much of what follows.
• Lost Potential: The Matthew Effect can prevent talented individuals from reaching their potential simply because they lack the initial advantage to succeed. This is a great loss for people as well as society.
• Systemic Bias: In addition, the Matthew Effect has the ability to also reinforce already existing biases and inequalities within systems and institutions. For example, if minorities or women are already underrepresented in the leadership positions to start, the Matthew Effect will further prevent them from advancing beyond that point, perpetuating their underrepresentation.

Mitigating the Negative Consequences of the Matthew Effect

While the Matthew Effect is a powerful force, it is not a law that cannot be broken. By understanding how it operates, we can make efforts to minimize its negative impact and construct a more equitable and balanced society. Some of the strategies are:

• Early Intervention Programs: Early childhood education, health, and nutrition programs can be utilized to level the playing field for underprivileged children so that they can have a greater opportunity to succeed in the future.
• Affirmative Action Policies: Affirmative action policies can help bridge historical and systemic disparities by providing opportunities for underrepresented groups to engage in education, employment, and other areas.
• Progressive Taxation and Social Safety Nets: Progressive taxation, where the higher earners pay a larger proportion of their income in taxes, can help redistribute wealth and fund social safety nets that provide relief to those in need.
• Mentorship and Sponsorship Programs: Mentorship and sponsorship programs can help individuals from disadvantaged groups gain access to networks, information, and opportunities that they might otherwise not have access to.
• Support a Growth Mindset: Promoting a growth mindset, or the belief that abilities can be increased through learning and effort, might allow for setbacks to be overcome and pushed through obstacles.

Conclusion

The Matthew Effect is a powerful force that makes our world a profoundly different place. By understanding how the Matthew Effect operates and taking steps to mitigate its negative impact, we can create a more equal and just society where everyone can thrive.