 Meritocracy is a political philosophy which holds that certain things, such as economic goods or power, should be vested in individuals on the basis of talent, effort, and achievement, rather than factors such as sexuality, race, gender, or wealth. Advancement in such a system is based on performance, as measured through examination award demonstrated achievement. Although the concept of meritocracy has existed for centuries, the term itself was first created in 1958 by the sociologist Michael Young. The Oxford English Dictionary shows the first use in 1956 and gives this citation. 1956 A Fox and Socialist Com. May 13 over won the meritocracy, the society in which the gifted, the smart, the energetic, the ambitious and the ruthless are carefully sifted out and helped towards their destined positions of dominance. Young's entry is listed as 1958-Meter Young Rise of Meritocracy IV. 71 Before the meritocracy was fully established, age stratification as a substitute for the hereditary order may have been necessary for the sake of social stability.