Generosity versus altruism: Philanthropy and charity in the US and UK

  • 1 January 1970
  • Paper / Report
  • Publisher : LSE Working papers
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This paper examines the distinct charitable giving cultures in the United States and the United Kingdom, proposing "generosity" and "altruism" models. It highlights the US consistently giving around 2% of GDP, while the UK remains below 1%, despite similar participation rates. The paper challenges simplistic views of the UK’s giving culture, attributing differences to political structures, social attitudes, and the varying roles of giving in each nation. It offers a nuanced perspective on philanthropy and charity across these two countries.

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K Wright

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Key topics

Social Justice, Philanthropy and Human Rights

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