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Revisiting National Institutions and Subnational Development in Africa with New Nighttime Light Data

Author

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  • Soyoka OKAMURA
  • Yotaro UENO
  • Toma YAMAGOSHI
  • Hisaki KONO

Abstract

We revisit the empirical investigation of the importance of national institutions for sub-regional economic development using more accurate nighttime light data. In contrast to the original study by Michalopoulos and Papaioannou (2014), we find that national institutions matter even after controlling for ethnic-homeland fixed effects, and even in areas far from the capital. This suggests that the spatial imprecision and blurring of nighttime light data attenuated the association between national institutions and economic activity in their analysis. Nevertheless, our analyses generally corroborate their argument, particularly regarding the role of the limited penetration of national institutions in African countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Soyoka OKAMURA & Yotaro UENO & Toma YAMAGOSHI & Hisaki KONO, 2024. "Revisiting National Institutions and Subnational Development in Africa with New Nighttime Light Data," Discussion papers e-23-008, Graduate School of Economics , Kyoto University.
    • Handle: RePEc:kue:epaper:e-23-008
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • O10 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General
    • O43 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Institutions and Growth
    • N17 - Economic History - - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics; Industrial Structure; Growth; Fluctuations - - - Africa; Oceania
    • R12 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Size and Spatial Distributions of Regional Economic Activity; Interregional Trade (economic geography)

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