Charge for Charity

Perhaps we should charge for the charity we give? The use of Clorin a water purification chemical in Zambia increased when the recipients were charged rather than given the same amount for free. The study described in this blog entry from the Center for Global Development. Why might these be? If people have to pay for what they receive they may perceive it to have more value. For example in the World Bank project I work on in Laos, communities are given assistance in building wells, schools, and health facilities. However, the community is required to donate funds and labor to help the project. The idea being that participation will lead to a better use of the funds donated by the World Bank.