Theoretical approaches to the economics of volunteering as a social labour phenomenon

Economic theories that may enrich the understanding of volunteerism have either not received an adequate attention or have not been explicitly identified. Furthermore, the significant contribution made by volunteer labour to the national income and employment goes unnoticed in economic terms. This article, which was inspired by research of the Center for Development and Research of the University of Bonn from the 2001, concentrates on a conceptual framework to measure an economic contribution made by volunteer labour and thereby to raise its societal appreciation.