To Volunteer or Not: Canada, 1987

This paper examines how the benefits and costs of doing volunteer work, as they are represented by individual characteristics such as age, education, or occupation, explain the choice to carry out or not to carry out volunteer work. The predictions of the analytical framework are supported by empirical results obtained by using data from a 1987 national survey of volunteer work. The results indicate that individuals whose family or career is likely to benefit are more likely to do volunteer work. This paper examines how the benefits and costs of doing volunteer work, as they are represented by individual characteristics such as age, education, or occupation, explain the choice to carry out or not to carry out volunteer work. The predictions of the analytical framework are supported by empirical results obtained by using data from a 1987 national survey of volunteer work. The results indicate that individuals whose family or career is likely to benefit are more likely to do volunteer work.