I expect there are some cohort effects (people in more recent generations have a higher probability of being involved). In particular, many people get into EA via university groups (although it may not be the place they ‘first heard’ about it; see David Moss’ reply), and these groups have only been around a decade or so.
But I also imagine some pure age effects (as people age they leave/are less likely to enter), perhaps driven by things like
1. Homophily/identity/herding: If you only see people unlike you (agewise) you’re less likely to think you belong. This leads to inertia.
2. Cost and family priorities: EA ~expects/encourages people to donate a substantial share of their income, or do directly impactful work (which may be less remunerative or secure). For older people the donation share/lost income could seem more substantial, esp. if they are used to their lifecycle. Or probably more significantly, for parents it may be harder to do what seems like ‘taking money away from their children.
3. Status and prestige issues: EA leaders tend to be young, EA doesn’t value seniority or credentials as much (which is probably a good thing). But older people might feel ~disrespected by this. Or second order: they might think that their age-peers and colleagues will think less of them if they are following or ‘taking direction’ from ~‘a bunch of kids’. E.g., as a jr. professor at an academic conference if you are seated at the grad students’ table you might feel insecure.
4. Issues and expertise that are relevant tends to be ‘new stuff’ that older people won’t have learned or won’t be familiar with. AI Safety is the biggest one, but there are other examples like Bayesian approaches.
(Identity politics bit: I’m 48 years old, and some of this is based on my own impressions, but not all of it.)
I expect there are some cohort effects (people in more recent generations have a higher probability of being involved). In particular, many people get into EA via university groups (although it may not be the place they ‘first heard’ about it; see David Moss’ reply), and these groups have only been around a decade or so.
But I also imagine some pure age effects (as people age they leave/are less likely to enter), perhaps driven by things like
1. Homophily/identity/herding: If you only see people unlike you (agewise) you’re less likely to think you belong. This leads to inertia.
2. Cost and family priorities: EA ~expects/encourages people to donate a substantial share of their income, or do directly impactful work (which may be less remunerative or secure). For older people the donation share/lost income could seem more substantial, esp. if they are used to their lifecycle. Or probably more significantly, for parents it may be harder to do what seems like ‘taking money away from their children.
3. Status and prestige issues: EA leaders tend to be young, EA doesn’t value seniority or credentials as much (which is probably a good thing). But older people might feel ~disrespected by this. Or second order: they might think that their age-peers and colleagues will think less of them if they are following or ‘taking direction’ from ~‘a bunch of kids’. E.g., as a jr. professor at an academic conference if you are seated at the grad students’ table you might feel insecure.
4. Issues and expertise that are relevant tends to be ‘new stuff’ that older people won’t have learned or won’t be familiar with. AI Safety is the biggest one, but there are other examples like Bayesian approaches.
(Identity politics bit: I’m 48 years old, and some of this is based on my own impressions, but not all of it.)