Spatial inequality during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa using night-time lights data

Bruno Martorano; Elena Perra; Marco Tiberti

Spatial inequality during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa using night-time lights data

Bruno Martorano, Elena Perra, Marco Tiberti

Research output: Working paper / Preprint › Working paper

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Abstract

In this paper, we study the evolution of spatial inequality during the recent COVID-19 pandemic in Africa and assess if there is any association between the outbreak of the health crisis, the strictness of policy restrictions and the changes observed in spatial inequality. Using remotely sensed night time lights data, we find that spatial inequality decreased after the COVID-19 outbreak. Yet, there are huge differences within and between countries. Spatial inequality decreased in Southern and Northern African countries while it increased in Central African countries. Spatial inequality mainly decreased in countries implementing more stringent measures but also in those areas that were richer before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Original language	English
Publisher	UNU-MERIT
Publication status	Published - 25 Sept 2023

Publication series

Series	UNU-MERIT Working Papers
Number	032
ISSN	1871-9872

JEL classifications

c22 - "Single Equation Models; Single Variables: Time-Series Models; Dynamic Quantile Regressions; Dynamic Treatment Effect Models"
d63 - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
i18 - "Health: Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health"
o55 - Economywide Country Studies: Africa

Keywords

Spatial Inequality
Real-time satellite data
COVID-19
Causal-ARIMA
Africa

Access to Document

wp2023-032Final published version, 66.5 MBLicence: CC BY-NC

https://www.merit.unu.edu/publications/wppdf/2023/wp2023-032.pdfLicence: CC BY-NC

Cite this

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