Does Giving Make Us Prosperous?
Arthur C. Brooks | Journal of Economics and Finance
October 01, 2007

    Download

Download file Click here to view the full text of this article.

A large majority of Americans give of their money and time. Most estimates place the percentage of U.S. households that make charitable contributions each year at about 75 percent, and the percentage that volunteer at about 55 percent. In 2003, American households contributed an average of $1,100 to charity in 2003, and volunteered about 45 hours. Taking out households that gave nothing, the average contribution level was $1,825; among only households that volunteered a positive amount, the average annual number of hours was 202. About six percent of households contributed money to arts and culture organizations. Among these givers, the average amount donated was about $198.

Download file Click here to view the full text of this article.

Arthur C. Brooks is a visiting scholar at AEI.

    Download
Also Visit
AEIdeas Blog The American Magazine
About the Author

 

Arthur C.
Brooks

  • Arthur C. Brooks is president of the American Enterprise Institute (AEI.) He is also the Beth and Ravenel Curry Scholar in Free Enterprise at AEI.

    Immediately before joining AEI, Brooks was the Louis A. Bantle Professor of Business and Government at Syracuse University, where he taught economics and social entrepreneurship.

    Brooks is the author of 10 books and hundreds of articles on topics including the role of government, fairness, economic opportunity, happiness, and the morality of free enterprise. His latest book, “The Road to Freedom: How to Win the Fight for Free Enterprise” (2012) was a New York Times bestseller. Among his earlier books are “Gross National Happiness” (2008), “Social Entrepreneurship” (2008), and “Who Really Cares” (2006). Before pursuing his work in public policy, Brooks spent 12 years as a classical musician in the United States and Spain.

    Brooks is a frequent guest on national television and radio talk shows and has been published widely in publications including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post.

    Brooks has a Ph.D. and an M.Phil. in policy analysis from RAND Graduate School. He also holds an M.A. in economics from Florida Atlantic University and a B.A. in economics from Thomas Edison State College.


    Follow Arthur Brooks on Twitter.

  • Assistant Info

    Name: Danielle Duncan
    Phone: 202.419.5213
    Email: danielle.duncan@aei.org
Show More | See Full Profile

What's new on AEI

image The Pentagon’s illusion of choice: Hagel’s 2 options are really 1
image Wild about Larry
image Primary care as affordable luxury
image Solving the chicken-or-egg job problem
close

Join the AEI Media List

AEI's press office frequently sends press advisories highlighting the availability of scholars to discuss particular news topics, as well as recent AEI products (such as studies, articles, and testimonies). Please enter your contact information below to be added to our media list.
JOIN MEDIA LIST
AEI on Facebook
Events Calendar
  • 05
    MON
  • 06
    TUE
  • 07
    WED
  • 08
    THU
  • 09
    FRI
Tuesday, August 06, 2013 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Uniting universal coverage and personal choice: A new direction for health reform

Join some of the authors, along with notable health scholars from the left and right, for the release of “Best of Both Worlds: Uniting Universal Coverage and Personal Choice in Health Care,” and a new debate over the priorities and policies that will most effectively reform health care.

VIEW EVENT DETAILS
No events scheduled this day.
No events scheduled this day.
No events scheduled this day.
No events scheduled this day.
No events scheduled this day.
No events scheduled today.
No events scheduled this day.