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This paper considers the virtues and limitations of national entrance examinations for senior public sector jobs in France. This system is valued as a guarantee of both the public interest, by selecting the best qualified individuals, and the interests of the individuals themselves, as they are judged on merit. The process for recruiting university professors is an example. Economics, political science, and management science—historically derived from law—are disciplines for which university professors are recruited through national entrance examinations. The study focuses on the examinations organized for management science, since 1976 when they began, until 2007, and identifies success factors. Through econometric analysis, which provides results with all things being equal, findings show the significant impact of scientific output, as well as a network effect, which is quantitatively more important than that of publications. These results thus question the more or less fair character of these entrance examinations.