AEA Papers and Proceedings
ISSN 2574-0768 (Print) | ISSN 2574-0776 (Online)
A New Perspective on Spatial Heterogeneity in African Development
AEA Papers and Proceedings
(pp. 167–172)
Abstract
Access to basic infrastructure is critical for quality of life and economic development. However, data about infrastructure access in low-income countries are sparse and costly to collect. We leverage satellite imagery and survey data to train a machine learning model to predict infrastructure access for each 6.72 kilometer by 6.72 kilometer area of Africa. To show this dataset's value, we use spatial regression discontinuity to study how much infrastructure heterogeneity across countries comes from differences in institutional quality, finding a positive effect of modest magnitude, reconciling previous contradicting results.Citation
Dupas, Pascaline, Nicolas Suarez, and Zhongyi Tang. 2026. "A New Perspective on Spatial Heterogeneity in African Development." AEA Papers and Proceedings 116: 167–172. DOI: 10.1257/pandp.20261090Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- H54 National Government Expenditures and Related Policies: Infrastructures; Other Public Investment and Capital Stock
- L94 Electric Utilities
- L95 Gas Utilities; Pipelines; Water Utilities
- O13 Economic Development: Agriculture; Natural Resources; Energy; Environment; Other Primary Products
- O17 Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements
- O43 Institutions and Growth
- Q53 Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling