ABSTRACT
How do crises shape native attitudes towards migrants? A common threat could produce an empathy channel among natives, but the perception of competition for scarce economic resources could just as easily spark prejudice through a resentment channel. Totally, 3,400 Colombian citizens were surveyed and randomly primed to consider the economic consequences of COVID-19 before eliciting their attitudes towards Venezuelan migrants. The findings suggest that native attitudes towards migrants are substantially more suggestive of the resentment channel in the treatment group. However, respondents in the so-called impressionable years—ages 18–25—showed more altruism towards migrants after priming. Interestingly, both effects disappear in response to positive news. VC The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.