This study showing that US academic faculty members are 25 times more likely than Americans in general to have a parent with a PhD or Masters degree has attracted a lot of attention, and comments suggesting that this is unusual and unsatisfactory.
I imagine there must be some benefit from having a famous name (selectors more willing to give second chances etc), but (a) and (b) are more important.
Are the Daicos brothers and Darcy Moore the beneficiaries of nepotism, or are they the beneficiaries of:
(a) inheriting physical characteristics that are advantageous in Australian Rules football; and
(b) their fathers teaching them the relevant football skills in the backyard or the local park from an early age?
I imagine there must be some benefit from having a famous name (selectors more willing to give second chances etc), but (a) and (b) are more important.