Helping to Flee a Political Crisis: A Conjoint Experiment on the Aid Preferences of Wartime Russian Migrants

For individuals fleeing oppressive regimes, the support from migrant communities is pivotal, often serving as a lifeline. Research typically focuses on the views of host nations' citizens regarding migrants, neglecting the perspectives of migrants on aiding others in crises. This study investigates the motives of Russian migrants for assisting non-family compatriots during the post-2022 military intervention in Ukraine. Using a choice-based conjoint experiment, we find that these migrants prefer to aid compatriots escaping political persecution, demonstrating a sense of political solidarity. The context of the conflict is significant: Russian migrants are willing to help people from ethnic minorities who are heavily affected by the war with Ukraine, challenging the usual assistance biases favoring co-ethnics. Assistance decisions are shaped by various attributes, including age, occupation, gender, and family status, highlighting the complex factors influencing migrants' willingness to help during political crises.