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Understanding the Motivation of College Students to Volunteer: An Integrated Consumption/Investment Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Peiguan Wu

    (Department of Management, International Business School, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China)

  • Xiaoye Li

    (Department of Economics, National University of Singapore, Singapore)

  • Xue Wang

    (Department of Economics, Lingnan College, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China)

Abstract

This study examines the specific motivation of college students to volunteer, based on the interpretation of volunteering as entailing both consumption and investment. Analysis of micro-level data, collected in an online survey from non-volunteers and volunteers on the RenDa Economics Forum, one of the main social networking sites in China, and from volunteers at the Shanghai World Expo 2010 in China, provides strong support for consumption-related motivation. However, we find no clear statistical evidence for the validity of the investment motive. Volunteering activities are found to play no significant role in determining future income when compared to other factors, such as test scores, gender, age, parents' education, job location, and the type of employer.

Suggested Citation

  • Peiguan Wu & Xiaoye Li & Xue Wang, 2015. "Understanding the Motivation of College Students to Volunteer: An Integrated Consumption/Investment Analysis," Frontiers of Economics in China-Selected Publications from Chinese Universities, Higher Education Press, vol. 10(4), pages 691-721, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:fec:journl:v:10:y:2015:i:4:p:691-721
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    File URL: http://journal.hep.com.cn/fec/EN/10.3868/s060-004-015-0032-9
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    college volunteers; consumption motive; investment motive;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J28 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Safety; Job Satisfaction; Related Public Policy

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