New Books in Education Jessi Streib, "The Accidental Equalizer: How Luck Determines Pay After College" (U Chicago Press, 2023)
Mar 2, 2026
Jessi Streib, associate professor of sociology at Duke University and author studying education and labor markets, introduces the concept of "luckocracy." She explains how hidden information and class-neutral hiring make luck decisive for mid-tier business jobs. Topics include how employers conceal pay and criteria, how class advantages are neutralized, and the ongoing role of luck in promotions and early careers.
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Luckocracy Explains Equal Pay Across Class
- Luckocracy is an opportunity structure that equalizes pay by awarding outcomes based on who guesses well rather than on class-based resources.
- It works because employers hide information about pay and hiring signals while using class-neutral evaluation criteria, making guesses equally likely to succeed.
Apply Findings Only To Mid Tier Business Jobs
- Study applies to mid-tier business markets hiring from non-elite universities, not elite sectors like publishing or arts.
- Focused methods: followed 60+ seniors, 100+ hiring actors, observed dozens of career events and analyzed job ads and resumes.
Hidden Pay And Vague Skills Make Hiring A Guessing Game
- Key hidden information includes earnings and precise evaluation criteria, forcing applicants to guess which jobs pay more and how to present themselves.
- Employers define vague skills like communication or leadership differently and rarely disclose which variant they prefer.
