| Large differences in generosity between individuals in different nations exist. Why do people in one country give more frequently and more generously to charitable organizations than people in another country? Charitable organizations provide important services for societies all over the world. If charitable organizations did not exist, in some countries poor people would have little to eat, research on terrible diseases would be conducted at a much lower pace (if at all), and many forms of culture and arts would perish. Generous People, Stingy Nations builds on theoretical insights from sociology, economy, and psychology to explain cross-national differences in donations to charitable organizations. Do people in some countries donate more to charities because they have access to higher levels of human, financial or social resources? Or because they differ in religious, political or social values? Another plausible explanation originates in major country-specific differences in governmental, fiscal, and legal policies for charitable organizations. This research project will advance theoretical knowledge on the subject of charitable giving by developing and testing innovative explanations for charitable giving, and implementing knowledge from several disciplines. The proposed research will thus contribute to the understanding of individual motivations for donations, as well as provide insight into the contextual factors that affect charitable giving. I will use different large-scale micro level datasets in combination with (aggregated) country-level data to answer my research question. The hypotheses will be tested using quantitative research methods, including multi-level modeling. The results of this project can be used to make 'good work better': Increase private contributions to the public good, for example through more efficient solicitation by charitable organizations or by suggesting changes in country-level policies and regulations for charitable organizations. |
