Which countries are the most giving? In this day and age when making lists of everything seems to be a kind of international pastime, it is not surprising that, just as there are lists which tell us which countries are the most corrupt, or the most democratic, someone has compiled a list of the most charitable countries. The Charities Aid Foundation, the compilers of the list, divided charity into three categories – giving money, volunteering your time, and helping strangers. Perhaps some readers may be surprised to know that the wealthiest countries are not always the most charitable. Only five places which appear in the top 20 list of the World Giving Index are also among the top 20
nations in terms of GDP. In the past, prosperous western nations have occupied the top spots, but this year other regions have made an appearance in the top 20. As economic growth surges, giving is on the rise in Asia. When it comes to donating money, the most generous country in the world is Thailand, where over 70 per cent of those polled gave regularly.
The index is designed to spot trends in giving, but in doing so it takes note of other habits. While many wealthy nations have moved down the list in relation to their positions last year, the United States rose – it placed fifth in 2010, but in 2011 it took the top spot. The survey also suggests that overall there is more giving than before, with more people saying that they’d be willing to help a stranger or to volunteer their time. And this is in spite of the ongoing economic woes. It appears that in lieu of money, which may be in short supply, people are more willing to do something for others – donating used clothes and toys to charity, or volunteering their time to help others. This seems to be what
happened in America, which ranks highest in terms of giving donations in kind and in volunteering time. As the recovery stagnates and politicians bicker, average Americans are lending each other a hand.
And while Americans are becoming more willing to help their fellow man, they are providing an opportunity to test two theories. The first theory is a simple one. Rich nations are thought to give more on the whole, because their citizens are on average wealthier and have more cash and time to spare for charity. This certainly seems true – other industrialised nations like the United Kingdom, Ireland and New Zealand are also in the top 20. Another theory suggests that countries which practise economic liberalism – having low taxes and a small welfare system – are more charitable because their citizens pay less taxes and are able to give more. Furthermore, adherents of the theory believe that the absence of “handouts” makes the average citizen more willing to help their fellow man. Therefore, the top 20 in the World Giving Index should be comprised of wealthy, economically liberal nations.
However, this is not the case. Laos and Liberia are in the top 20, as well as Nigeria and Turkmenistan. These are poor nations, where many of the citizens live without things that the rest of us take for granted. For example, in Turkmenistan only 1.6 per cent of the population use the Internet because most of the population has no access to landlines, much less the World Wide Web. Guyana is also in the top 20 at number 18, but Laos and Liberia both rank higher, at tenth and 14th respectively. All three countries are ahead of Germany, which placed 43rd; and France, that came 80th.
This suggests that despite the theories put forward, it is the poor who are the most generous and willing to help. Despite the state of the world economy, the people who are suffering the most are helping each other.
What can we in Barbados learn from this? Don’t let the present economic woes stop you. Most of us think of Christmas as the time for giving, but don’t stop now that the new year has started. Find ways to help each other all year round.
(Source http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/newsitem.asp?more=editorial&NewsID=21952)
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