--- ## Highlights ### Elite Overproduction in his book, [_Ages of Discord_](https://click.convertkit-mail.com/p9uvwr9qq0u9h340234sqh3/9qhzhnhpxpwek6iz/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbXpuLnRvLzMyWU42dEY=) _._ Specifically, he blames “elite overproduction” for many of America’s challenges. He argues that there’s a surplus of smart, young Americans fighting for admission to the same elite colleges and graduates fighting for the same prestigious jobs. The number of people gunning for these elite schools and employers is rising much faster than the number of available slots. That’s partially why schooling and urban housing prices are rising so fast. All that competition, Turchin says, causes society to fracture and is one of the chief causes of political instability. For an explainer, I recommend [this _Atlantic_ article](https://click.convertkit-mail.com/p9uvwr9qq0u9h340234sqh3/3ohphkh7r7mk6rup/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhlYXRsYW50aWMuY29tL21hZ2F6aW5lL2FyY2hpdmUvMjAyMC8xMi9jYW4taGlzdG9yeS1wcmVkaWN0LWZ1dHVyZS82MTY5OTMv) or [this piece from Bloomberg’s Noah Smith](https://click.convertkit-mail.com/p9uvwr9qq0u9h340234sqh3/n2hohvh3g3qlw5t0/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmxvb21iZXJnLmNvbS9vcGluaW9uL2FydGljbGVzLzIwMjAtMDctMDYvdGhlLXJpY2gtYW5kLXByaXZpbGVnZWQtY2FuLXJldm9sdC10b28=) . ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01h516e8yf7fs4z4fw477yw828)) - [[The schooling system is outdated]]