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Using luminosity data as a proxy for economic statistics


One of the pervasive issues in social and environmental research has been to improve the quality of socioeconomic data in developing countries. Because of the shortcoming of standard data sources, the present study examines luminosity (measures of nighttime lights) as a proxy for standard measures of output. The paper compares output and luminosity at the country levels and at the 1° x 1° grid-cell levels for the period 1992-2008. The results are that luminosity has very little value added for countries with high-quality statistical systems. However, it may be useful for countries with the lowest statistical grades, particularly for war-torn countries with no recent population or economic censuses. The results also indicate that luminosity has more value added for economic density estimates than for time-series growth rates.

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Source https://econpapers.repec.org/paper/nbrnberwo/16317.htm
Author(s) Xi Chen, William Nordhaus
Last Updated March 24, 2021, 16:47 (UTC)
Created October 8, 2020, 18:50 (UTC)
Stable Link https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=zh-TW&as_sdt=0%2C21&q=Using+luminosity+data+as+a+proxy+for+economic+statistics&btnG=
Date 2011-05-24
Content Type Publications
Primary Category Demographics & Socioeconomics
Sub Category Socioeconomics
Country Name Global
Publishing Organization New Light Technologies