News coverage of unemployment changes dramatically when figures cross round numbers due to left-digit bias.
Data & Methods:
We exploited the discontinuity in media attention at milestone unemployment levels, using data from U.S. governor elections.
Key Findings:
Incumbents' vote margins shift significantly—twofold as much negatively affected by bad milestones compared to positive gains.
Mechanism & Implications:
This asymmetry suggests that media focus on specific thresholds disproportionately influences voter perception and behavior.
