At UO, benevolence funds the science behind it

At UO, benevolence funds the science behind it: Every civilized society relies on chari­table giving to help pay for social welfare, culture, education, environmental quality and scientific research. With shrinking federal and state support, philanthropy will be an ever more important means of providing these public goods. Given this increasing importance, we should ask: Why are people so willing to give some of their hard-earned money to help others, or to support an abstract cause? Why do some give more than others? Our research group at the University of Oregon has been investigating these questions.