Author(s)

Sanae Hanine¹, Brahim Dinar²

¹Research Laboratory in Economics, Business Management (LAREGMA), Faculty of Science and Technology of SETTAT, Hassan Premier University, Settat, Morocco.
²Research Laboratory in Economics, Business Management (LAREGMA), Faculty of Legal and Economic Sciences, Hassan Premier University, Settat, Morocco.

The Matthew effect is a theory created by sociologist Robert K. Merton (1968) to denote that initial benefits of various kinds accumulate over time. He describes the economic and social phenomenon whereby the riches tend to get richer and the powerful more powerful. The Matthew effect, as a concept, is used today to describe the general model of self-reinforcing inequalities linked to economic wealth, power, prestige, knowledge or any other rare or valued resource. In this research, we will use Merton’s theory to analyze the transient inequalities generated following the COVID-19 pandemic which materialized the Matthew effect in all its glory by focusing more specifically on Morocco. We based our analysis on a review of the literature that dealt with indicators of fluctuating wealth. The indices raised during the pandemic showed that inequalities have been reinforced. The inequality gap is now deeper and deeper.

Matthew Effect, Cumulative Benefit, COVID-19 Pandemic, Inequalities, Morocco

Hanine, S. and Dinar, B. (2022) The Matthew Effect: What Post-Pandemic COVID-19 Readings?. Journal of Human Resource and Sustainability Studies, 10, 772-780. doi: 10.4236/jhrss.2022.104045.