The Significance of Work for Voluntary Associations: A Cross-National Comparison

• In Event: 568 - Section on Altruism, Morality and Social Solidarity Roundtables (one-hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 04. Volunteering and Voluntary Associations

Abstract

One of the frequently used proxy measures for social capital is participation in voluntary associations. Despite the significance of voluntary associations for civil society and democracy, explanations of varying rates of participation in them are not yet completely understood. Furthermore, although the link from social capital to work (eg finding work) has been well studied, yet the link from employment to the social capital measured by voluntary association membership remains understudied. This article examines how employment, supervisory status, and occupational characteristics including the creativity, autonomy and intellectuality of work influence membership rates in voluntary associations cross-nationally. Using data from the World Values Survey Wave 5 and 6 and multilevel regression modeling, this research demonstrates that unemployment has a stable, negative effect on participation rates while supervisory status and creativity of work help to foster associational memberships.

Authors

• Sarah Busse Spencer, National Research University-Higher School of Economics

• Anna Almakaeva, National Research University-Higher School of Economics