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Religion and the Civic Core in the Netherlands

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Rene Bekkers
Rene Bekkers

The civic core is the part of the population that is responsible for a disproportionately large part of civic participation. This paper shows how the level of activity and the composition of the civic core have changed in the Netherlands between 1997 and 2009 using data from the Giving in the Netherlands Survey. The results show that - despite ongoing secularization - the civic core in the Netherlands is increasingly religious. At the same time, the prevalence of higher educated individuals in the civic core has diminished. Engagement in charitable giving is increasingly related to engagement in volunteering. In sum, the increasing concentration of activity in the civic core is especially visible among religious persons and volunteers.

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Religion and the Civic Core in the Netherlands René Bekkers Center for Philanthropic Studies VU University Amsterdam UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 1 Capital
• Religious people do more of the total giving and volunteering in the United States, Canada, the Netherlands and Flanders. UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 2 Capital
Religion in the Netherlands UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 3 Capital
Giving in the Netherlands UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 4 Capital
• Civic participation tends to be concentrated among a small group that does most of the giving and volunteering. • Reed & Selbee (2001, NVSQ) call this group the ‘civic core’. UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 5 Capital
• You can think of giving and volunteering as a natural phenomenon with a certain level of concentration. UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 6 Capital
Like firebugs. UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 7 Capital
• Firebugs tend to cling together. • In my own front garden I find them especially on dry and sunny places. • Churches are like the sunny rocks in my garden – a fertile environment for donors and volunteers. UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 8 Capital
This is not what the bugs do. UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 9 Capital
They concentrate - UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 10 Capital
Into a core. UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 11 Capital
So, why? • Why is religious affiliation and activity associated with giving and volunteering? • What is it in religion that makes people care about society as a whole? UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 12 Capital
Popular dichotomies • Conviction and community (Wuthnow, 1991) • Intrinsic religious motivation (Cnaan et al., 1993) vs. associational ties (Jackson et al, 1995) • Norms and networks (Ruiter & De Graaf, 2006) UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 13 Capital
Volunteering and Giving • Volunteering and charitable giving are two types of contributions to society • They are both indicators of social capital, governed by similar principles • With Pamala Wiepking I recently summarized the literature on charitable giving in a review article for Voluntary Sector Review (November 2011 issue). UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 14 Capital
UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 15 Capital
• In this formulation, religion is viewed as an external force that influences people. • From religious communities, people ‘get’ their networks and convictions. • Religious beliefs and prosocial values may vary from person to person. UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 16 Capital
So, why? • Why is religious affiliation and activity associated with giving and volunteering? • What is it in religion that makes people care about society as a whole? UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 17 Capital
So, why? • Why is religious affiliation and activity associated with giving and volunteering? • What is it in people that makes them care about religion and society as a whole? UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 18 Capital
A stone in the pond… • Going back to the firebugs, I wonder why bugs like sunny rocks. • Why do donors and volunteers love going to church? • Church attendance involves exposure to requests for contributions. • For those who dislike contributing and/or being asked to do so, the church is not a fun place to be. UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 19 Capital
Endogeneity • Religion is increasingly a matter of choice. • People with personalities and value systems that conflict with the church in which they were ‘born’ will leave. • Social influence in religious communities is also to some extent the influence group members allow. UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 20 Capital
- UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 21 Capital
UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 22 Capital
Back on track: so what? • This talk is mainly about how the concentration of giving and volunteering among religious groups in the Netherlands has changed over time. • This is important because religion disappears from Dutch society. • Will giving and volunteering decline along with secularization? UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 23 Capital
Not… • …if those who are ‘left behind’ in churches become more active citizens.  this would lead to a higher level of concentration of giving and volunteering among the religious. • …if another factor gains importance, such as education – but I am saving that for another occasion. UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 24 Capital
The data • All the ‘Giving in the Netherlands’ survey data that we have gathered biennially since 1997. Total n=9,696. • The data are treated as separate cross- sections and then pooled into one file. • Amounts are adjusted for inflation. UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 25 Capital
Total giving by religion UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 26 Capital
Religious giving UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 27 Capital
Secular giving by religion UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 28 Capital
Top quintile, 2009 UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 29 Capital
Doing their share? UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 30 Capital
Growing inequality in secular giving over time UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 31 Capital
Volunteer hours top quintile UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 32 Capital
Increasing concentration Proportion of volunteers by total giving quintile UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 33 Capital
Amounts donated by non- volunteers UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 34 Capital
Amounts donated by volunteers UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 35 Capital
Household giving: no-yes Catholic 1.403*** 1.438*** Protestant 1.757*** 1.751*** Survey wave 1.116*** Catholic * wave 1.038*** Protestant * wave 0.985 Secondary education 1.166*** 1.191*** Tertiary education 1.618*** 1.673*** Secondary * wave 0.915*** Tertiary * wave 0.916*** Church attendance (4 categories) 1.180*** 1.182*** Attendance * wave 0.997 n 9,696 9,696 Odds ratios in logistic egression of household giving, also including age (model 1) and age * wave (model 2), UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 36 Capital
Amount donated in € Catholic -109*** -111*** Protestant 216*** 215*** Survey wave 14*** Catholic * wave 7*** Protestant * wave 3 Secondary education 51*** 71*** Tertiary education 160*** 185*** Secondary * wave -17*** Tertiary * wave -21*** Church attendance (4 categories) 125*** 124*** Attendance * wave 2*** n 7,857 7,857 Odds ratios in logistic egression of household giving, also including age (model 1) and age * wave (model 2), UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 37 Capital
Volunteering: no-yes Catholic 1.142** 1.146** Protestant 1.723*** 1.709*** Survey wave 1.045*** Catholic * wave 0.999 Protestant * wave 1.025 Secondary education 1.190*** 1.245*** Tertiary education 1.613*** 1.695*** Secondary * wave 0.958*** Tertiary * wave 0.963*** Church attendance (4 categories) 1.333*** 1.326*** Attendance * wave 1.017*** n 9,030 9,030 Odds ratios in logistic egression of household giving, also including age (model 1) and age * wave (model 2), UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 38 Capital
Amount donated in € (logs, donors only) Catholic -.063 -.097 -.098 Protestant .841*** .744*** .688*** Survey wave .111*** .106*** .085*** Secondary education .707*** .585*** .554*** Tertiary education 1.393*** 1.278*** 1.237*** Volunteering .389*** .235*** .159 Volunteering * wave .067*** .059*** .046*** Social responsibility .384*** .357*** Altruistic values .628*** .582*** Asked to volunteer .108* .058 Number of solicitations .214*** .161*** Requests * wave .015* n 5,983 5,983 5,983 Odds ratios in OLS regressions of log of total amount donated, also including age , age * wave, education * wave, religion * wave UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 39 Capital
Secular amount donated in € (logs, donors only) Catholic -.063 -.259*** -.296*** Protestant .283*** .098 -.064 Survey wave -.026*** .114*** .085*** Secondary education -.025 .585*** .522*** Tertiary education .554*** 1.278*** 1.304*** Volunteering .375*** .132 Volunteering * wave .054** .031 Social responsibility .357*** Altruistic values .643*** Asked to volunteer .057 Number of solicitations .165*** Requests * wave .018** n 5,983 5,983 5,983 Odds ratios in OLS regressions of log of total amount donated, also including age , age * wave, education * wave, religion * wave UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 40 Capital
Additional results • Concentration of giving among the elderly is due to their stronger religiosity. • No significant changes in relationships with hours volunteered among volunteers. • No changes in relationships of prosocial values with giving. UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 41 Capital
Additional results • Similar denominational differences in helping behavior as in volunteering. • Helping is positively related to volunteering, both secular and religious. • The relationship between secular volunteering and church attendance has become stronger over time. UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 42 Capital
Conclusions • The civic core is increasingly religious. • The civic core is becoming less highly educated. • The civic core becomes increasingly concentrated: volunteering and giving increasingly go together. UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 43 Capital
Concentrating from UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 44 Capital
To this core. UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 45 Capital
A grim future? • How can we create new forms of cohesion in society that bring people together? • Creating opportunities to contribute time and money in groups with positive norms: sunny rocks UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 46 Capital
Something else - UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 47 Capital
Contact • ‘Giving in the Netherlands’, Center for Philanthropic Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, VU University Amsterdam: www.geveninnederland.nl • René Bekkers, r.bekkers@vu.nl • Blog: renebekkers.wordpress.com • Twitter: @renebekkers UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 48 Capital

More Related Content

Religion and the Civic Core in the Netherlands

  • 1. Religion and the Civic Core in the Netherlands René Bekkers Center for Philanthropic Studies VU University Amsterdam UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 1 Capital
  • 2. • Religious people do more of the total giving and volunteering in the United States, Canada, the Netherlands and Flanders. UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 2 Capital
  • 3. Religion in the Netherlands UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 3 Capital
  • 4. Giving in the Netherlands UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 4 Capital
  • 5. • Civic participation tends to be concentrated among a small group that does most of the giving and volunteering. • Reed & Selbee (2001, NVSQ) call this group the ‘civic core’. UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 5 Capital
  • 6. • You can think of giving and volunteering as a natural phenomenon with a certain level of concentration. UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 6 Capital
  • 7. Like firebugs. UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 7 Capital
  • 8. • Firebugs tend to cling together. • In my own front garden I find them especially on dry and sunny places. • Churches are like the sunny rocks in my garden – a fertile environment for donors and volunteers. UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 8 Capital
  • 9. This is not what the bugs do. UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 9 Capital
  • 10. They concentrate - UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 10 Capital
  • 11. Into a core. UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 11 Capital
  • 12. So, why? • Why is religious affiliation and activity associated with giving and volunteering? • What is it in religion that makes people care about society as a whole? UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 12 Capital
  • 13. Popular dichotomies • Conviction and community (Wuthnow, 1991) • Intrinsic religious motivation (Cnaan et al., 1993) vs. associational ties (Jackson et al, 1995) • Norms and networks (Ruiter & De Graaf, 2006) UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 13 Capital
  • 14. Volunteering and Giving • Volunteering and charitable giving are two types of contributions to society • They are both indicators of social capital, governed by similar principles • With Pamala Wiepking I recently summarized the literature on charitable giving in a review article for Voluntary Sector Review (November 2011 issue). UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 14 Capital
  • 15. UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 15 Capital
  • 16. • In this formulation, religion is viewed as an external force that influences people. • From religious communities, people ‘get’ their networks and convictions. • Religious beliefs and prosocial values may vary from person to person. UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 16 Capital
  • 17. So, why? • Why is religious affiliation and activity associated with giving and volunteering? • What is it in religion that makes people care about society as a whole? UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 17 Capital
  • 18. So, why? • Why is religious affiliation and activity associated with giving and volunteering? • What is it in people that makes them care about religion and society as a whole? UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 18 Capital
  • 19. A stone in the pond… • Going back to the firebugs, I wonder why bugs like sunny rocks. • Why do donors and volunteers love going to church? • Church attendance involves exposure to requests for contributions. • For those who dislike contributing and/or being asked to do so, the church is not a fun place to be. UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 19 Capital
  • 20. Endogeneity • Religion is increasingly a matter of choice. • People with personalities and value systems that conflict with the church in which they were ‘born’ will leave. • Social influence in religious communities is also to some extent the influence group members allow. UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 20 Capital
  • 21. - UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 21 Capital
  • 22. UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 22 Capital
  • 23. Back on track: so what? • This talk is mainly about how the concentration of giving and volunteering among religious groups in the Netherlands has changed over time. • This is important because religion disappears from Dutch society. • Will giving and volunteering decline along with secularization? UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 23 Capital
  • 24. Not… • …if those who are ‘left behind’ in churches become more active citizens.  this would lead to a higher level of concentration of giving and volunteering among the religious. • …if another factor gains importance, such as education – but I am saving that for another occasion. UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 24 Capital
  • 25. The data • All the ‘Giving in the Netherlands’ survey data that we have gathered biennially since 1997. Total n=9,696. • The data are treated as separate cross- sections and then pooled into one file. • Amounts are adjusted for inflation. UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 25 Capital
  • 26. Total giving by religion UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 26 Capital
  • 27. Religious giving UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 27 Capital
  • 28. Secular giving by religion UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 28 Capital
  • 29. Top quintile, 2009 UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 29 Capital
  • 30. Doing their share? UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 30 Capital
  • 31. Growing inequality in secular giving over time UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 31 Capital
  • 32. Volunteer hours top quintile UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 32 Capital
  • 33. Increasing concentration Proportion of volunteers by total giving quintile UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 33 Capital
  • 34. Amounts donated by non- volunteers UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 34 Capital
  • 35. Amounts donated by volunteers UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 35 Capital
  • 36. Household giving: no-yes Catholic 1.403*** 1.438*** Protestant 1.757*** 1.751*** Survey wave 1.116*** Catholic * wave 1.038*** Protestant * wave 0.985 Secondary education 1.166*** 1.191*** Tertiary education 1.618*** 1.673*** Secondary * wave 0.915*** Tertiary * wave 0.916*** Church attendance (4 categories) 1.180*** 1.182*** Attendance * wave 0.997 n 9,696 9,696 Odds ratios in logistic egression of household giving, also including age (model 1) and age * wave (model 2), UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 36 Capital
  • 37. Amount donated in € Catholic -109*** -111*** Protestant 216*** 215*** Survey wave 14*** Catholic * wave 7*** Protestant * wave 3 Secondary education 51*** 71*** Tertiary education 160*** 185*** Secondary * wave -17*** Tertiary * wave -21*** Church attendance (4 categories) 125*** 124*** Attendance * wave 2*** n 7,857 7,857 Odds ratios in logistic egression of household giving, also including age (model 1) and age * wave (model 2), UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 37 Capital
  • 38. Volunteering: no-yes Catholic 1.142** 1.146** Protestant 1.723*** 1.709*** Survey wave 1.045*** Catholic * wave 0.999 Protestant * wave 1.025 Secondary education 1.190*** 1.245*** Tertiary education 1.613*** 1.695*** Secondary * wave 0.958*** Tertiary * wave 0.963*** Church attendance (4 categories) 1.333*** 1.326*** Attendance * wave 1.017*** n 9,030 9,030 Odds ratios in logistic egression of household giving, also including age (model 1) and age * wave (model 2), UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 38 Capital
  • 39. Amount donated in € (logs, donors only) Catholic -.063 -.097 -.098 Protestant .841*** .744*** .688*** Survey wave .111*** .106*** .085*** Secondary education .707*** .585*** .554*** Tertiary education 1.393*** 1.278*** 1.237*** Volunteering .389*** .235*** .159 Volunteering * wave .067*** .059*** .046*** Social responsibility .384*** .357*** Altruistic values .628*** .582*** Asked to volunteer .108* .058 Number of solicitations .214*** .161*** Requests * wave .015* n 5,983 5,983 5,983 Odds ratios in OLS regressions of log of total amount donated, also including age , age * wave, education * wave, religion * wave UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 39 Capital
  • 40. Secular amount donated in € (logs, donors only) Catholic -.063 -.259*** -.296*** Protestant .283*** .098 -.064 Survey wave -.026*** .114*** .085*** Secondary education -.025 .585*** .522*** Tertiary education .554*** 1.278*** 1.304*** Volunteering .375*** .132 Volunteering * wave .054** .031 Social responsibility .357*** Altruistic values .643*** Asked to volunteer .057 Number of solicitations .165*** Requests * wave .018** n 5,983 5,983 5,983 Odds ratios in OLS regressions of log of total amount donated, also including age , age * wave, education * wave, religion * wave UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 40 Capital
  • 41. Additional results • Concentration of giving among the elderly is due to their stronger religiosity. • No significant changes in relationships with hours volunteered among volunteers. • No changes in relationships of prosocial values with giving. UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 41 Capital
  • 42. Additional results • Similar denominational differences in helping behavior as in volunteering. • Helping is positively related to volunteering, both secular and religious. • The relationship between secular volunteering and church attendance has become stronger over time. UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 42 Capital
  • 43. Conclusions • The civic core is increasingly religious. • The civic core is becoming less highly educated. • The civic core becomes increasingly concentrated: volunteering and giving increasingly go together. UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 43 Capital
  • 44. Concentrating from UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 44 Capital
  • 45. To this core. UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 45 Capital
  • 46. A grim future? • How can we create new forms of cohesion in society that bring people together? • Creating opportunities to contribute time and money in groups with positive norms: sunny rocks UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 46 Capital
  • 47. Something else - UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 47 Capital
  • 48. Contact • ‘Giving in the Netherlands’, Center for Philanthropic Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, VU University Amsterdam: www.geveninnederland.nl • René Bekkers, r.bekkers@vu.nl • Blog: renebekkers.wordpress.com • Twitter: @renebekkers UCSIA Workshop Volunteering, Religion, and Social December 8, 2011 48 Capital