Open AccessGlobal inequality remotely sensed
Author(s) -
M. Usman Mirza,
Chi Xu,
Bas van Bavel,
Egbert H. van Nes,
Marten Scheffer
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.1919913118
Subject(s) - inequality , economic inequality , geography , distribution (mathematics) , remote sensing , mathematics , mathematical analysis
Significance Reliable data on economic inequality are largely limited to North America and Western Europe. As a result, we know the least about areas where inequality presents the most serious developmental policy challenge. We demonstrate that spatial variation in night-light emitted per person can reflect the distribution of income. This allows us to map global patterns and trends in economic inequality using remote sensing.