Via numerical experiments, we show that the ∼10%-20% passive fraction seen at z>3 is consistent with galaxy star formation histories being maximally correlated stochastic processes. If so, this fraction should reflect a time-independent baseline that holds at any epoch or mass regime where mean star formation rates are rising. Data at logM∗<10 and z<0.5 bear this out, as should future James Webb Space Telescope observations.
@article{arxiv.2012.08050,
title = {At Least One-in-Six Galaxies Is Always Dead},
author = {L. E. Abramson and D. D. Kelson},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2012.08050},
year = {2020}
}