Resource Disparities in Formal and Informal Volunteering

Analyzing data from the Chinese Social Survey (2017, 2019, 2021), this study reveals a structural transformation in volunteerism in China: state-led formal volunteering has increased, while socially autonomous informal volunteering has declined, shifting from a positive correlation to statistical independence. Against this backdrop, we extend resource theory by incorporating political capital alongside human, social, and cultural capital. Of these, we find that political capital (Communist Party membership and state-affiliated employment) has the strongest association with formal volunteering, exceeding the effects of education and institutional trust, with little correlation to informal volunteering. Moreover, formal volunteering shows pronounced stratification linked to human capital and social networks, while informal volunteering offers broader access across resource gradients, with religious belief as a significant predictor. These insights enhance our understanding of state–society relations and suggest that balanced policies valuing both structured and autonomous volunteering could effectively promote diverse civic participation and improve social governance in China.