Popular depictions of today’s young adults portray them as a generation of “disruptors” who don’t want to do anything the way their older counterparts did. However, no empirical research has actually demonstrated whether such delays are indeed intentional, or if they are circumstantial and mark a growing failure to achieve significant life goals. The Center on Longevity wanted to understand how the timing of major life milestones has shifted across generations.

On March 14 and 15, 2017, we convened a group of distinguished experts representing the fields of medicine, engineering, psychology, sociology, law, government, health economics, health policy, industry, technology, and advocacy, to elaborate key issues, compile existing evidence, and identify questions to which answers are needed in order to guide research, inform public policy, and improve products and services.