Working for Nothing: The Supply of Volunteer Labor

43 Pages Posted: 10 Jun 2000 Last revised: 9 Nov 2022

See all articles by Richard B. Freeman

Richard B. Freeman

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER); University of Edinburgh - School of Social and Political Studies; Harvard University; London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE) - Centre for Economic Performance (CEP)

Date Written: January 1996

Abstract

Volunteer activity is work performed without monetary recompense. This paper shows that volunteering is a sizeable economic activity in the U.S.; that volunteers have high skills and opportunity costs of time; that standard labor supply explanations of volunteering account for only a minor part of volunteer behavior; and that many volunteer only when requested to do so. This suggests that volunteering is a 'conscience good or activity' -- something that people feel morally obligated to do when asked, but which they would just as soon let someone else do.

Suggested Citation

Freeman, Richard B., Working for Nothing: The Supply of Volunteer Labor (January 1996). NBER Working Paper No. w5435, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=225492

Richard B. Freeman (Contact Author)

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