Replication data for: Its (Change in) the (Future) Economy, Stupid: Economic Indicators, the Media and Public Opinion

Economic perceptions affect policy preferences and government support. It thus matters that these perceptions are driven by factors other than the economy, including media coverage. We nevertheless know little about how media reflect economic trends, or whether they influence (or are influenced by) public economic perceptions. This paper explores the economy, media and public opinion, focusing in particular on whether media coverage (and the public) react to changes in or levels of economic activity, and the past, present or future economy. Analyses rely on content-analytic data drawn from 30,000 news stories over 30 years in the US. Results indicate that coverage reflects change in the future economy, and that this both influences and is influenced by public evaluations. These patterns may help explain previous findings in political behavior. They also make more understandable the somewhat surprising finding of positive coverage and public assessments in the midst of the Great Recession.