{
  "title": "Illuminating Economic Growth",
  "publication": "IMF Working Papers, April 9, 2019",
  "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2019/04/09/illuminating-economic-growth-46670",
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  "summary": "This paper seeks to illuminate the uncertainty in official GDP per capita measures using auxiliary data. Using satellite-recorded nighttime lights as an additional measurement of true GDP per capita, we provide a statistical framework, in which the error in official GDP per capita may depend on the",
  "sections": [
    {
      "heading": "Overview and objectives",
      "content": "- Authors: Yingyao Hu, Jiaxiong Yao\n- Publication date: April 9, 2019\n- Type: IMF Working Papers, Working Paper No. 2019/077, Issue: 077, Volume: 2019, Pages: 57\n- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781498302944.001\n- ISBN: 9781498302944\n- ISSN: 1018-5941\n- Primary objective: To illuminate the uncertainty in official GDP per capita measures using auxiliary data (satellite-recorded nighttime lights) and a statistical framework that allows measurement errors to depend on statistical capacity and for the lights–GDP relationship to be nonlinear and geographically varying."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Methodology and analytical framework",
      "content": "- Uses satellite-recorded nighttime lights as an additional measurement of true GDP per capita.\n- Applies recently developed results for measurement error models to:\n  - Identify and estimate the nonlinear relationship between nighttime lights and true GDP per capita.\n  - Identify and estimate the nonparametric distribution of errors in official GDP per capita data.\n- Combines inputs: nighttime lights, official national accounts data, statistical capacity, and geographic locations to construct alternative GDP per capita measures that aim to be more precise and robust."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Key findings",
      "content": "- GDP per capita measures are less precise for middle and low income countries.\n- Nighttime lights can play a bigger role in improving GDP per capita measures for middle and low income countries.\n- The error in official GDP per capita may depend on the country’s statistical capacity.\n- The relationship between nighttime lights and true GDP per capita can be nonlinear and vary with geographic location."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Subjects and keywords",
      "content": "- Subject: Economic sectors, GDP measurement, Income, Informal economy, National accounts, Personal income\n- Keywords: economic activity, GDP measurement, GDP per capita, Global, Income, Informal economy, light-predicted GDP, low income, measurement error, nighttime light, Nighttime lights, real GDP measure, real gross domestic product, WP"
    },
    {
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      "content": "- Publication title: Illuminating Economic Growth\n- Series: Working Paper No. 2019/077\n- Stock No: WPIEA2019077\n- Format note: IMF Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to encourage debate.\n\nSource: IMF Working Paper \"Illuminating Economic Growth\" by Yingyao Hu and Jiaxiong Yao, April 9, 2019; DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781498302944.001\n\n---\n\n Content in this bundle\n\n- Working Paper\n  - Working Paper (Markdown version){rel=\"alternate\" type=\"text/markdown\"}\n  - Working Paper (PDF){rel=\"external\" type=\"application/pdf\"}\n\n---\n\nSource: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2019/04/09/illuminating-economic-growth-46670"
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    "Authors: Yingyao Hu, Jiaxiong Yao",
    "Published: April 9, 2019",
    "Series: IMF Working Papers",
    "DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781498302944.001",
    "Authors: Yingyao Hu, Jiaxiong Yao",
    "Publication date: April 9, 2019",
    "Type: IMF Working Papers, Working Paper No. 2019/077, Issue: 077, Volume: 2019, Pages: 57",
    "DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781498302944.001",
    "ISBN: 9781498302944",
    "ISSN: 1018-5941",
    "Primary objective: To illuminate the uncertainty in official GDP per capita measures using auxiliary data (satellite-recorded nighttime lights) and a statistical framework that allows measurement errors to depend on statistical capacity and for the lights–GDP relationship to be nonlinear and geographically varying.",
    "Uses satellite-recorded nighttime lights as an additional measurement of true GDP per capita.",
    "Applies recently developed results for measurement error models to:",
    "Combines inputs: nighttime lights, official national accounts data, statistical capacity, and geographic locations to construct alternative GDP per capita measures that aim to be more precise and robust.",
    "GDP per capita measures are less precise for middle and low income countries.",
    "Nighttime lights can play a bigger role in improving GDP per capita measures for middle and low income countries.",
    "The error in official GDP per capita may depend on the country’s statistical capacity.",
    "The relationship between nighttime lights and true GDP per capita can be nonlinear and vary with geographic location.",
    "Subject: Economic sectors, GDP measurement, Income, Informal economy, National accounts, Personal income",
    "Keywords: economic activity, GDP measurement, GDP per capita, Global, Income, Informal economy, light-predicted GDP, low income, measurement error, nighttime light, Nighttime lights, real GDP measure, real gross domestic product, WP",
    "Publication title: Illuminating Economic Growth",
    "Series: Working Paper No. 2019/077",
    "Stock No: WPIEA2019077",
    "Format note: IMF Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to encourage debate.",
    "**Working Paper**"
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