By clicking the "Accept" button or continuing to browse our site, you agree to first-party and session-only cookies being stored on your device to enhance site navigation and analyze site performance and traffic. For more information on our use of cookies, please see our Privacy Policy.
This paper leverages nationally representative surveys across 60 countries and
64,000 respondents to present novel stylized facts about the relationship-specific
nature of altruism. Across individuals, universalist preferences systematically vary
with demographics such as age and religiosity, and are predictive of many left-wing
political views, albeit in culturally highly heterogeneous ways. Across countries, universalism
is strongly linked to a broader radius of trust. Looking at origins, universalism
varies with the economic, political and religious organization of societies in
ways that are consistent with the idea that the scope of altruism is partly shaped by
economic incentives and democracy.
