People who feel financially comfortable are more likely to report prosocial actions like donating money and prosocial attitudes than people in a tough financial situation, according to a study. Prosociality—preferences and behaviors that benefit others—is essential to human society. In practice, it is determined by both the desire and the ability to help. Paul Vanags and colleagues analyzed data from the Global Preferences Survey and the Gallup World Poll, including 80,337 people in 76 countries with incomes ranging from about $200 a year to about $380,000 per year, adjusted to be equivalent across the different countries measured. The authors gathered responses to questions assessing participants’ levels of prosociality and wealth, in terms of both self-reported household income and subjective financial well-being. Subjective financial wellbeing was quantified based on whether participants reported they were “living comfortably” or merely “getting by” or worse, whether they were satisfied or dissatisfied with their standard of living, whether their standard of living was improving or deteriorating, and whether their city or area’s standard of living was improving or deteriorating. Around the world, people with higher incomes were more likely to report that they gave money to good causes, volunteered, or helped strangers within the past month than people with lower incomes. People with higher incomes were also more willing than people with lower incomes to return a prosocial act (e.g., the authors considered the amount of money that respondents would give a stranger who gave them directions), give to good causes without expecting anything in return, and punish unfair behavior towards themselves or others. However, those with higher incomes reported lower trust in others than those with lower incomes. People with higher subjective financial wellbeing scored higher on every prosocial measure than people with lower subjective financial wellbeing—including trust. According to the authors, the findings have implications for social policy.
PNAS Nexus
Greater income and financial well-being are associated with higher prosocial preferences and behaviors across 76 countries
4-Feb-2025