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Using satellite imagery to monitor remote rural economies at high frequency

Author

Listed:
  • Tillmann von Carnap

    (Center on Food Security and the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, United States of America)

  • Reza M. Asiyabi

    (Mistra Center for Sustainable Markets, Stockholm School of Economics, Stockholm, Sweden
    School of GeoScience, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom)

  • Paul Dingus

    (Center on Food Security and the Environment, Stanford University, Stanford, United States of America)

  • Anna Tompsett

    (Beijer Institute of Ecological Economics, The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden
    Institute for International Economic Studies, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden)

Abstract

Despite global progress in reducing extreme poverty, stubborn pockets remain, often in remote and fragile regions. A fundamental obstacle to further progress is that remoteness and fragility also constrain our ability to monitor economic conditions. Using satellite imagery, we develop a new approach to monitor economic activity at periodic markets, focal points for rural trade throughout history and much of the world today. We describe how to detect marketplaces without pre-existing maps and how to construct an up-to-weekly measure of their activity. We show that we successfully detect marketplaces and that activity correlates with other measures of economic activity, captures seasonal patterns, and responds to local weather and conflict. Drawing on high frequency, globally available imagery, our approach enables real-time monitoring of economic activity independent of ground conditions. .

Suggested Citation

  • Tillmann von Carnap & Reza M. Asiyabi & Paul Dingus & Anna Tompsett, 2024. "Using satellite imagery to monitor remote rural economies at high frequency," Papers 2407.12953, arXiv.org, revised Aug 2024.
    • Handle: RePEc:arx:papers:2407.12953
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ravallion, Martin, 2016. "The Economics of Poverty: History, Measurement, and Policy," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780190212773.
    2. 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.
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