Volunteers are reputedly healthier and happier than their non-volunteering counterparts. But is this a causal link or are healthier, happy individuals simply more likely to volunteer? Some papers have attempted to identify the causal relationship using an instrumental variable methodology, mostly relying on measures of religiosity as instruments for volunteering – however, religiosity may also affect health thus calling into question the validity of this approach. We rely on a novel instrument, a measure physical proximity to volunteer opportunities, to help identify the causal link from volunteering to health and happiness using econometric regression techniques. We find that volunteering is a robustly significant predictor of health, and positively affects life satisfaction for all but those aged under 35.

据说志愿者比非志愿者的同行更健康、更快乐。但这是一个因果关系，还是更健康、更快乐的人更愿意做志愿者？一些论文试图使用工具变量方法来确定因果关系，主要依赖于作为志愿服务工具的​​宗教信仰测量 - 然而，宗教信仰也可能影响健康，因此质疑这种方法的有效性。我们依靠一种新颖的工具，一种测量与志愿者机会的物理接近度，使用计量经济学回归技术帮助确定志愿服务与健康和幸福之间的因果关系。我们发现志愿服务是健康的重要预测指标，并且对除 35 岁以下的人之外的所有人的生活满意度产生积极影响。