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  5. Representation in Mobility Data in Emerging Cities

AEA Papers and Proceedings

ISSN 2574-0768 (Print) | ISSN 2574-0776 (Online)

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Representation in Mobility Data in Emerging Cities

  • Daniel Björkegren
  • Alice Duhaut
  • Oluchi Mbonu
  • Geetika Nagpal
  • Nick Tsivanidis
AEA Papers and Proceedings
vol. 116, May 2026
(pp. 184–189)
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Abstract

How people move has implications for many facets of economic activity. Data from mobile phones have enabled much finer tracking of mobility. However, there are multiple ways to measure mobility. Smartphone data may omit many people in emerging economies, and call records include locations only when people actively use their phones. We assess the trade-offs in measuring mobility with different sources using comprehensive mobility data from Lagos, Nigeria.

Citation

Björkegren, Daniel, Alice Duhaut, Oluchi Mbonu, Geetika Nagpal, and Nick Tsivanidis. 2026. "Representation in Mobility Data in Emerging Cities." AEA Papers and Proceedings 116: 184–189. DOI: 10.1257/pandp.20261093

Additional Materials

JEL Classification

  • C83 Survey Methods; Sampling Methods
  • L96 Telecommunications
  • O12 Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
  • O18 Economic Development: Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure
  • R23 Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics: Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population; Neighborhood Characteristics