“To the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance”: What is the “Matthew effect” that makes the rich get richer?

The Matthew effect describes cumulative advantage: those who already have a lead tend to gain more resources, prestige, and opportunities.

The term was popularized in 1968 by Robert K. Merton, who used a verse from the Gospel of Matthew to explain why famous scientists received more recognition.

Later studies found the same pattern in capital returns, scientific funding, and reading acquisition.

The key takeaway is that early advantages can snowball and deepen inequality over time.