Abstract We complement the literature on distributive politics by taking a systematic look at regional favoritism in large and diverse sample of countries employing broad measure that captures aggregate effect many different policies. In particular, we use satellite data nighttime light intensity information about birthplaces countries’ political leaders. our panel 38,427 subnational regions from 126 with yearly observations 1992 to 2009, find have more intense when being birth region...

Nighttime lights, calculated from weather satellite recordings, are increasingly used by social scientists as a proxy for economic activity or development in subnational regions of developing countries where disaggregated data statistical offices not available. However, so far, our understanding what nighttime lights capture these is limited. We use geo-referenced Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) 29 African to construct indicators household wealth, education health DHS cluster locations...

Increasing the attractiveness of voting is often seen as a remedy for unequal participation and influence special-interest groups on public policy. However, lower costs may also bring less informed citizens to poll, thereby inviting efforts sway these voters. We substantiate this argument in probabilistic model with campaign contributions. In an empirical analysis 26 Swiss cantons, we find that due postal are related higher turnout, average education political knowledge participants well...

We study the effects of economic shocks on civil conflict at subnational level using a panel dataset 5689 administrative regions from 53 African countries with yearly observations 1992 to 2010. find that shocks, measured by nighttime light intensity and instrumented lagged rainfall levels droughts, increase probability conflict.

Oil spills can lead to irreversible environmental degradation and are a potential hazard human health. We study how onshore oil affect neonatal infant mortality by combining spatial data from the Nigerian Spill Monitor with Demographic Health Surveys. To identify causal effect, we compare siblings born same mother, conceived before after nearby spill. find that occur conception increase 38.3 deaths per 1,000 live births, which corresponds an of around 100% on sample mean. The effect is...

This article investigates whether China's foreign aid is particularly prone to capture by political leaders of aid-receiving countries. We examine more Chinese allocated the birth regions and populated ethnic groups which belong, controlling for indicators need various fixed effects. have collected data on 117 African leaders' birthplaces geocoded 1,650 development finance projects across 3,097 physical locations that were committed Africa over 2000–2012 period. Our econometric results show...

This paper analyzes the role of networks in spatial diffusion local economic shocks Africa. We show that geographic connectivity, along with road and ethnic are important for diffusing spillovers over longer distances. then determine key players, is, which districts propagating across Using these results, we conduct counterfactual policy exercises to evaluate potential gains from policies increase activity specific or improve connectivity between districts.

Download This Paper Open PDF in Browser Add to My Library Share: Permalink Using these links will ensure access this page indefinitely Copy URL Aid on Demand: African Leaders and the Geography of China's Foreign Assistance 51 Pages Posted: 28 Jul 2015 See all articles by Axel DreherAxel DreherHeidelberg UniversityAndreas FuchsUniversity Goettingen (Göttingen) - Faculty Economics Business Administration; Kiel Institute for World EconomyRoland HodlerUniversity St. Gallen; University Oxford;...

Nighttime lights are increasingly used by social scientists as a proxy for economic activity and development in subnational spatial units. However, so far, our understanding of what nighttime capture is limited. We construct local indicators household wealth, education health from geo-coded Demographic Health Surveys (DHS) 29 African countries. show that positively associated with these across DHS cluster locations well grid cells roughly 50 x km. conclude good human at the level.

We study the tension between fiscal decentralization and progressive taxation. present a multi-community model in which households differ incomes housing preferences local income tax rate is function of an exogenous schedule endogenous shifter. The progressivity induces self-sorting process that results substantial though imperfect sorting. actual structure thus less than schedule. Empirical evidence from largest Swiss metropolitan area supports predictions our model.