Unemployment Milestones Shape Media Coverage; Governors' Elections Show Asymmetric Impact

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.