Aristocracy or Meritocracy? The Role of Elite Pedigree and Research Performance in New Accounting Faculty Placements

This paper investigates the influences of elitism and merit in new accounting faculty. Building on research showing that search committees value pedigree in hiring new faculty, we theorize both aristocratic (e.g., accessing or reinforcing elite networks) and meritocratic (e.g., signaling stronger future research potential) influences on the hiring of new accounting faculty. Using curriculum vitae from 381 Accounting Ph.D. Rookie Recruiting and Research Camps, we examine whether candidates graduating from elite   accounting institutions place disproportionately higher than do their non-elite peers. Results suggest that elite   pedigree predicts placement rank among candidates  without  favorable publication outcomes at top journals (e.g. acceptance or invitation to resubmit) but not among candidates  with  favorable publication outcomes. The results suggest joint and complex aristocratic (elite-based) and meritocratic (productivity-based) influences in new accounting faculty hiring.