Is Charitable Giving Becoming a Status Symbol?

According to a National Post report about an academic paper on “Conspicuous Giving”, charitable giving has become a status symbol.

The term “conspicuous giving” describes the way society at large has latched on to a desire for visibility that comes with donating time or money.

Some people see nothing wrong with getting credit for giving; others say giving as a means to prop up the ego is no longer giving, but taking.

If it means that giving happens a lot more, does it matter if you look over your shoulder to see if someone is watching?