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HIV infections and nightlight luminosity

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  • Gautam, Pratibha
  • Li, Ben G.

Abstract

HIV epidemics in developing countries are difficult to measure because the symptoms of HIV infections are non-specific and diagnosis relies on laboratory tests. We find that the nightlight data used in Henderson et al. (2012), originally compiled for estimating GDP growth rates in developing countries, can predict HIV incidence across countries. With economic performance, urbanization, and population density held the same, there remains a significant and robust negative association between nightlight and HIV incidence. In contrast, nightlight shows no association with other common health problems in developing countries. We posit that nightlight reflects the availability of basic public goods that prevent diseases with low infectiousness. We also construct nightlight-augmented HIV incidence for 68 countries with the poorest data quality.

Suggested Citation

  • Gautam, Pratibha & Li, Ben G., 2021. "HIV infections and nightlight luminosity," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 204(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:204:y:2021:i:c:s0165176521001646
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2021.109887
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Elias Papaioannou, 2014. "National Institutions and Subnational Development in Africa," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, Oxford University Press, vol. 129(1), pages 151-213.
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    3. Adam Storeygard, 2016. "Farther on down the Road: Transport Costs, Trade and Urban Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 83(3), pages 1263-1295.
    4. David Canning, 2006. "The Economics of HIV/AIDS in Low-Income Countries: The Case for Prevention," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 20(3), pages 121-142, Summer.
    5. Dave Donaldson & Adam Storeygard, 2016. "The View from Above: Applications of Satellite Data in Economics," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 30(4), pages 171-198, Fall.
    6. Maxim Pinkovskiy & Xavier Sala-i-Martin, 2016. "Lights, Camera … Income! Illuminating the National Accounts-Household Surveys Debate," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 131(2), pages 579-631.
    7. J. Vernon Henderson & Adam Storeygard & David N. Weil, 2012. "Measuring Economic Growth from Outer Space," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 102(2), pages 994-1028, April.
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    Cited by:

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Nightlight luminosity; Epidemiological incidence; HIV;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods
    • O57 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Comparative Studies of Countries
    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development

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