ABSTRACT
This chapter reports analysis from a cross-national study relevant to civic service, defined as 'an organized period of substantial engagement and contribution to the local, national, or world community, recognized and valued by society, with minimal monetary compensation to the participant'. It contexts with the observation that numerous scholars and educators have called attention to the societal value of civic service. The chapter focuses on four countries: Chile, Denmark, England, and the United States. Research has focused primarily on benefits to the students' psychological development, social development, and academic learning. Psychological theory has been of relatively minor importance in service research, although it has a great deal to contribute. Cross-national research on civic service by youth is notable for its rarity. Cutler, D reviewed young people's involvement in public decisions affecting their lives in a series of monographs, including one on the United Kingdom and one on the United States.
