Volunteering in cross-national perspective: initial comparisons

Despite a growing interest in volunteering at national and international levels, few studies have explored comparative aspects of voluntary activities. To remedy this situation, this paper looks at the cultural differences in defining volunteering in relation to paid work on the one hand, and compulsory work on the other. Against this background, the paper explores cross-national patterns in the frequency of volunteering, the social characteristics of volunteers, and the motivations that lie behind them. The paper finds a close relationship between the type of non-profit regime (liberal, social democratic, corporatist, and statist) and the role and importance of volunteering. In closing , the paper addresses policy issues and open research questions.