Adding on: Increasing EA spending in certain areas could certainly support diversity, but it could have the opposite effect elsewhere.
I’m concerned that focusing community-building efforts at elite universities only increases inequality. I’m guessing that university groups do much of the recruiting for all-expenses-paid activities. In practice, then, students at elite universities will benefit, while students at state schools and community colleges won’t even hear about these opportunities. So the current EA community-building system quite accurately selects for privileged students to give money to.
This is a great point. The good news is your concern is shared by CEA and others. It’s very exciting to see the work that Jessica McCurdy at CEA (and others) are doing to support the growth of EA groups at economically diverse R1 universities and smaller colleges, etc.
EAIF has also funded a small project to try and support groups at so-called “Public Ivies” in the U.S., with a special focus on public honors colleges that can contribute to socioeconomic diversity in EA. Feel free to DM if you’re interested in this broader opportunity area, whether in the context of North America / other OECD member countries—or in the context of other regions of the world!
Adding on: Increasing EA spending in certain areas could certainly support diversity, but it could have the opposite effect elsewhere.
I’m concerned that focusing community-building efforts at elite universities only increases inequality. I’m guessing that university groups do much of the recruiting for all-expenses-paid activities. In practice, then, students at elite universities will benefit, while students at state schools and community colleges won’t even hear about these opportunities. So the current EA community-building system quite accurately selects for privileged students to give money to.
Curious about any work to change this pattern!
This is a great point. The good news is your concern is shared by CEA and others. It’s very exciting to see the work that Jessica McCurdy at CEA (and others) are doing to support the growth of EA groups at economically diverse R1 universities and smaller colleges, etc.
EAIF has also funded a small project to try and support groups at so-called “Public Ivies” in the U.S., with a special focus on public honors colleges that can contribute to socioeconomic diversity in EA. Feel free to DM if you’re interested in this broader opportunity area, whether in the context of North America / other OECD member countries—or in the context of other regions of the world!