Advancing Joint Work on Meritocracy
Alexander Shapoval is a scholar who resists being defined by a single discipline. Trained as a mathematician, he doesn’t limit himself to proving theorems. His work has been published across fields, including in Physical Review E, The World Economy, The International Journal of Game Theory, and The Astrophysical Journal. His strong record for transdisciplinary work and measurement expertise make him an ideal visiting scholar to the Stone Center for Research on Wealth Inequality and Mobility.
An Intellectual Partnership Takes Shape
Shapoval first connected with Professor Steven Durlauf, the Stone Center’s Faculty Director, at an international conference nearly a decade ago. The two were introduced through Stone Center Affiliate, Shlomo Weber. Since the Center’s founding in 2022, Shapoval has made the Stone Center a home for collaboration, with previous visits in Spring 2024 and Winter 2025.
The first collaboration combined the efforts of Durlauf, Shapoval, and the Stone Center’s Postdoctoral Scholar, Kristina Butaeva. The trio’s forthcoming paper, “Intergenerational Mobility in Late Qing Dynasty (1783-1909): Evidence from Northeast China,” uses a unique dataset, the China Multi-Generational Panel Dataset, Liaoning (CMGPD-LN), and proposes a non-homogeneous Markov chain approach for measuring social mobility. This dataset traces the evolution of transition matrices spanning up to six generations, providing a unique opportunity to study multigenerational mobility.
His most recent visit, a weeklong stay in January 2026, offered the perfect opportunity to advance Shapoval and Durlauf’s latest paper, “Inclusion or Exclusion? Arguments Involving Meritocracy,” which will be presented at an upcoming convening entitled, Assessing Meritocracy. The conference, in partnership with the International Institute of Research in Paris, will bring together international academics to explore normative and positive dimensions of meritocracy. Shapoval’s other project with Butaeva will also be on display.
Scholarly Exchange in Action
Shapoval describes scholarly visits as a part of the job. “This is quite intensive work, and we need to push it forward together.” His co-authorships have been enriched by dedicated scholars and their intellectual focuses. Regarding Durlauf, he says his collaborator has a mind that “transmits ideas,” adding that working in different physical environments augments his broader research.
Throughout his stay, Shapoval was an active participant in the Stone Center’s vibrant community. He joined the Center’s Research Roundtable, where our scholars informally present work ahead of workshops and conferences, as well as the bi-weekly Inequality Workshop.
Making Measurement Matter
Shapoval’s commitment to research extends beyond producing results; he is concerned with its reach. In our conversation, he underscored the importance of dissemination. “Sometimes delivering the message of your research is even more difficult than arriving at your results.” Good research, he argues, must be accessible.
As his collaborations with the Stone Center deepen, Shapoval’s scholarship reflects the principles that guide our Center: precise measurement, thoughtful ethical considerations, and ideas that defy the bounds of their disciplines.
Relevant Publications
Butaeva K., Durlauf S., and Shapoval A. Forthcoming. Intergenerational Mobility in Late Qing Dynasty (1783-1909): Evidence from Northeast China.
Durlauf S., and Shapoval A. Forthcoming. Inclusion or Exclusion? Arguments Involving Meritocracy.
