The Influence of Generalized Trust on Volunteering in Japan

Abstract

There is limited understanding of how attitudinal variables such as generalized trust influence formal volunteering compared with demographic and socioeconomic variables. Using data from the 2005 Japanese General Social Survey (JGSS), this study examines the effects of generalized trust on regular and irregular formal volunteering in Japan. As the majority of studies on formal volunteering are based in Western countries, focusing on a non-Western society extends our knowledge of volunteering decisions. Japan is known for its normative emphasis on group affiliation and in-group cooperation, and its citizens are often said to be distrustful of strangers. In such a society, how does generalized trust affect formal volunteering? A bivariate probit analysis of the JGSS data suggests that generalized trust is significantly and positively associated with the probability of irregular formal volunteering, but not with regular formal volunteering. Implications of these findings are discussed for future research linking generalized trust to formal volunteering.

Relationship Between Transparency and Efficiency in the Allocation of Funds in Nongovernmental Development Organizations

“…However, according to Taniguchi and Marshall (2014), the effect of trust may also highly depend on specific social contexts. In some countries, trust is unrelated or weakly related to citizen participation (Delhey and Newton 2003;Taniguchi 2013).…”

Institutional Trust, Sector Confidence, and Charitable Giving

“…Taniguchi (2013) studies the relationship between generalized trust and volunteering, but Bowman (2004) focused specifically on the relationship between charitable confidence and volunteering, using data from the 2006 Giving and Volunteering study. In that application, charitable confidence is a single measure constructed from the average confidence that respondents have in 13 specific subsectors, including health organizations, religious organizations, and human services.…”

The Impact of Social Capital on Volunteering and Giving: Evidence From Urban China

“…Previous studies have shown that individuals’ volunteering and giving behaviors are influenced by their demographic characteristics and the stock of human, financial, cultural, and social capital that they possess (e.g., Bekkers, 2003, 2004; Jackson, Bachmeier, Wood, & Craft, 1995; Schervish & Havens, 1997; Smith, Kehoe, & Cremer, 1995; Taniguchi, 2012, 2013; Wilson & Musick, 1997). In these studies, human capital was consistently measured by education and health, and financial capital was measured by level of income.…”