Markovits argues that meritocracy, which was once seen as a fair way to reward talent and effort, has turned into a system that locks in privilege and fuels inequality. He says the rich now pass down advantages through elite education and high-status jobs, making it nearly impossible for others to catch up. The middle class gets squeezed out, and even the elite are trapped in a cycle of overwork and pressure. Meritocracy does not just fail to deliver fairness, but it actively makes things worse by blaming people for not earning success in a rigged game. His message is blunt: if we want a fairer society, we need to rethink how we define merit and who gets rewarded.