  We study the generalized sum rules and polarizabilities of the nucleon in the
framework of the hypercentral constituent quark model. We include in the
calculation all the well known $3^*$ and $4^*$ resonances and consider all the
generalized sum rules for which there are data available. To test the model
dependence of the calculation, we compare our results to the results obtained
in the harmonic oscillator CQM. We furthermore confront our results to the
model-independent sum rules values and to the predictions of the
phenomenological MAID model. The CQM calculations provide a good description of
most of the presented generalized sum rules in the intermediate $Q^2$ region
(above $\sim0.2$ GeV$^2$) while they encounter difficulties in describing these
observables at low $Q^2$, where the effects of the pion cloud, not included in
the present calculation, are expected to be important.
