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The association between charitable giving and happiness: Evidence from the Chinese General Social Survey

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Listed:
  • Xiaoting Zheng

    (Jinan University)

  • Jiayue Chen

    (Jinan University)

  • Yipeng Li

    (Jinan University)

Abstract

Using the 2012 Chinese General Social Survey data set and the ratio of charitable giving at the community level as the instrumental variable, we investigated the non-instantaneous impacts of charitable giving on the donor’s subjective well-being (SWB). The results indicate that charitable giving is positively correlated with SWB in the ordinary least squares regressions, ordered probit and 2SLS regressions. The above results are robust after eliminating students from the sample, using the propensity score matching method, or converting SWB to a dummy variable. There is no evidence that fundraising in state-owned enterprises will have a detrimental effect on the SWB of donors.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaoting Zheng & Jiayue Chen & Yipeng Li, 2021. "The association between charitable giving and happiness: Evidence from the Chinese General Social Survey," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 55(6), pages 2103-2138, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:qualqt:v:55:y:2021:i:6:d:10.1007_s11135-021-01104-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s11135-021-01104-y
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