It’s that time of year again. The trees are dropping their leaves, there’s a nip in the air, and people are bundling up in sweaters. Twinkling lights adorn every streetlight. And the constant ringing of bells signals pleas for charitable donations. The giving season is upon us.

During the holidays, charitable donations increase dramatically — a trend that seems to persist across all income levels. So, it only takes those ringing bells to increase charitable donations, right? Well, aside from the changing seasons, several other factors also impact giving.

Unsurprisingly, wealth is a major factor. To donate money, one must have money to give. It’s also important to consider context — namely, the context of wealth inequality.

The United States has the fourth highest level of inequality among the 35 countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (behind Mexico, Chile, and Turkey), meaning that the gap in wealth among the rich and poor is relatively large. The divide is only widening. So are high-income earners giving more with inequality is on the rise? The evidence is complicated.