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The ABCDE of Big Data: Assessing Biases in Call-Detail Records for Development Estimates

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  • Gabriel Pestre
  • Emmanuel Letouzé
  • Emilio Zagheni

Abstract

This article contributes to improving our understanding of biases in estimates of demographic indicators, in the developing world, based on Call Detail Records (CDRs). CDRs represent an important and largely untapped source of data for the developing world. However, they are not representative of the underlying population. We combine CDRs and census data for Senegal in 2013 to evaluate biases related to estimates of population density. We show that: (i) there are systematic relationships between cell-phone use and socio-economic and geographic characteristics that can be leveraged to improve estimates of population density; (ii) when no ‘ground truth’ data is available, a difference-in-difference approach can be used to reduce bias and infer relative changes over time in population size at the subnational level; (iii) indicators of development, including urbanization and internal, circular, and temporary migration, can be monitored by integrating census data and CDRs. The paper is intended to offer a methodological contribution and examples of applications related to combining new and traditional data sources to improve our ability to monitor development indicators over time and space.

Suggested Citation

  • Gabriel Pestre & Emmanuel Letouzé & Emilio Zagheni, 2020. "The ABCDE of Big Data: Assessing Biases in Call-Detail Records for Development Estimates," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 34(Supplemen), pages 89-97.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:wbecrv:v:34:y:2020:i:supplement_1:p:s89-s97.
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    1. Rajendra Kulkarni & Kingsley Haynes & Roger Stough & James Riggle, 2011. "Light based growth indicator (LBGI): exploratory analysis of developing a proxy for local economic growth based on night lights," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 3(2), pages 101-113, June.
    2. Rajagopal, 2014. "The Human Factors," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Architecting Enterprise, chapter 9, pages 225-249, Palgrave Macmillan.
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    Cited by:

    1. Bertoli, Simone & Ozden, Caglar & Packard, Michael, 2021. "Segregation and internal mobility of Syrian refugees in Turkey: Evidence from mobile phone data," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).

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