Australia has been overtaken by the U.S as the world’s most charitable country in a recent survey*.

As the US is the world’s richest country it makes sense that they’ve climbed to the top spot. Australia, on the other hand, ranks 14th on the world’s richest scale^: so we’ve done well to get the silver medal in generosity.

One would hope that the richer you are, the more you give away. A simple concept but our perception of rich depends on who we have around us. If you live in a community where big houses, boats and cars are the norm, then you won’t be rich until you’ve at least paid off the mortgage. In other nations, however, one cow could make the richest man in your village.

So why don’t we always give more, when we earn more? Perhaps our increased earning gives us new privileges, invites us to a new community. A higher salary may provide income for a property in a more well-off area, around more well-off people, reinforcing the message that’s its normal to be well-off.

But messages...

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