Which refugees are people willing to accept?

Many politicians need to balance their country's international commitments to offer asylum with the concerns of their own voters. And according to these voters, some refugees are more welcome than others.

A large-scale study in fifteen European countries revealed that voters are most supportive of asylum-seekers who are more employable, have more consistent testimonies and severe vulnerabilities, and are Christian rather than Muslim. These preferences were remarkably stable across countries and also among voters of different ages, education levels, income, and political ideologies.