What are the benefits of volunteering for volunteers? Arjen de Wit René Bekkers Danique Karamat Ali Dave Verkaik 44th ARNOVA Conference Center for Philanthropic Studies November 20, 2015 VU University Amsterdam Chicago

ITSSOIN Impact of the Third Sector on Social Innovation ITSSOIN is a research project funded under the European Commission’s 7th Framework Programme responding to a call to investigate “The impact of the third sector on socio-economic development in Europe”. The project is a research collaboration between 11 European institutions led by the University of Heidelberg and runs from 2014-2017. Visit https://itssoin.eu to get all the reports

The VU Amsterdam Team René Bekkers – Arjen de Wit – Dave Verkaik – Danique Karamat Ali

ITSSOIN Papers D2.3. Bekkers, R. & Verkaik, D. (2015). Empirical Analyses of Citizen Perceptions of the Third Sector in Europe. D3.1. Bekkers, R. & De Wit, A. (2014). Participation in volunteering: What helps and hinders. D3.2. Bekkers, R., & Verkaik, D.J. (2015). How to Estimate What Participation in Third Sector Activities Does for Participants. D3.3. De Wit, A., Bekkers, R., Karamat Ali, D. & Verkaik, D. (2015). Welfare Impacts of Participation.

Today’s talk D2.3. Bekkers, R. & Verkaik, D. (2015). Empirical Analyses of Citizen Perceptions of the Third Sector in Europe. D3.1. Bekkers, R. & De Wit, A. (2014). Participation in volunteering: What helps and hinders. D3.2. Bekkers, R., & Verkaik, D.J. (2015). How to Estimate What Participation in Third Sector Activities Does for Participants. D3.3. De Wit, A., Bekkers, R., Karamat Ali, D. & Verkaik, D. (2015). Welfare Impacts of Participation.

Our starting point The literature on volunteering clearly shows a higher level of well-being among volunteers. The exciting possibility emerges that volunteering may promote the well-being of participants. BUT…the higher level of wellbeing among volunteers may also be the result of a higher willingness to volunteer among citizens who have a higher level of wellbeing. In this case, pre-existing levels of well-being determine volunteer choices, but are not affected by them.

So… how to estimate the impact of volunteering?

So… how to estimate the impact of volunteering?

Research Design In the absence of experimental data that randomize people into volunteering, we analyze changes over time. We first graph the development in the lives of citizens as they move into and out of volunteering. However, these changes could still reflect influences of omitted variables. Therefore, we apply fixed effects regression models to eliminate influences of stable characteristics of citizens. This is a conservative test.

What is the impact of volunteering? Does volunteering make you healthier? Does volunteer increase your well-being? Does volunteering increase your social network? Does volunteering strengthen your position on the job market?

Six Longitudinal Panel Data Surveys German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP) British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) / Understanding Society Swiss Household Panel (SHP) Giving in the Netherlands Panel Survey (GINPS) Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) Longitudinal Ageing Study Amsterdam (LASA)

Six Longitudinal Panel Data Surveys Years Responses Respondents German Socio Economic Panel (GSOEP) 1984-2011 451,053 56,360 British Household Panel Survey / Understanding Society (BHPS) 1996-2012 111,062 20,798 Swiss Household Panel (SHP) 1999-2013 126,638 16,628 Giving in the Netherlands Panel Survey (GINPS) 2002-2014 8,930 2,795 Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) 2004-2011 138,971 55,657 Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA) 1993-2006 9,069 2,732 ALL 1984-2014 845,733 154,970

Results at a glance Healthy Happy Working Networking GSOEP + BHPS - SHP GINPS SHARE LASA

In our analyses we use six large datasets covering fifteen countries in Europe. In total, we analysed 845.733 survey responses from 154.970 different respondents. In all datasets, only respondents aged 18 and over who participated in more than one wave were selected. We rescaled all outcomes on a scale from 0 to 1.

Volunteers are happier

Happiness over time

Happiness over time

First difference models (18+)

Happiness among 55+ In Europe In the Netherlands

Volunteers feel healthier

Older volunteers feel healthier

Older volunteers feel healthier

First difference estimates (55+)

Health among 18+

Happiness ‘effects’ in three models

Health ‘effects’ in three models

Paid work

Social networks

Next steps A mega-analysis pooling all datasets. Estimating quantile regression models. Conducing a variety of robustness checks. Examining moderators Refining volunteering: intensity, frequency, sector, task Subgroups: gender, age, education, religion, baseline Examining mediators Social networks, psychological strength