Education and Voluntary Association Participation: Evidence for Selection and Causation

Abstract

We study the relationship of education and participation in voluntary associations throughout the life course, using retrospective data from the Netherlands (covering the period 1932-2000) and prospective panel data from Wisconsin (1957Wisconsin ( -2003. In both datasets, we find that those who will eventually achieve a higher level of education are already more likely to participate in voluntary associations before they have completed their educational career. This implies that the relationship between education and participation in voluntary associations is partly due to selection effects. However, both datasets also reveal that increases in education are associated with increases in voluntary associations memberships, suggesting causative effects of education. The Dutch data reveal no causative effect of education on volunteering if selection into membership is taken into account. Acknowledgements

Global Giving

“…To some extent, social capital explains why human capital is associated with charitable giving [35]. Also the relation between religious affiliation and philanthropy is reduced when social capital is taken into account [37].…”

“…group cohesion and social norms emerging from religious traditions [37]. The core idea of Global Giving is that institutions are key not only to how much is given in a country, but also to who gives to which causes, and why.…”