3G-pop-coverage

This is a replication of the 3G network covered population rate calculation following the instructions of Guriev et al. (QJE, 2021)

Calculation Method

1 Compute Population Weight Raster

• For region m, the proportion (weight) of the population in the i-th grid cell relative to the total population of the region is calculated as follows:

$$ population\ weight_i = \cfrac{number\ of\ people_i}{\sum number\ of\ people_i} = \cfrac{population\ density_i \times 1km^2}{\sum (population\ density_i \times 1km^2)} $$

2 Compute Population-Weighted 3G Coverage Raster

• Compute the population-weighted 3G coverage:

$$ population\ weighted\ 3G\ coverage = population\ weight_i \times 3G\ coverage_i $$

$$ = \cfrac{population\ density_i \times 1km^2}{\sum (population\ density_i \times 1km^2)} \times 3G\ coverage_i $$

$$ = \cfrac{population\ density_i}{\sum population\ density_i} \times 3G\ coverage_i $$

3 Compute the 3G-Covered Population Proportion within a Region

• Finally, sum all grids within a region to obtain the proportion of the population covered by 3G:

$$ 3G\ covered\ rate = \sum_{i=1}^{n} (population\ weight_i \times 3G\ coverage_i) $$

$$ = \sum_{i=1}^{n} \left( \cfrac{population\ density_i}{\sum population\ density_i} \times 3G\ coverage_i \right) $$

Reference

Guriev, Sergei, Nikita Melnikov, and Ekaterina Zhuravskaya. "3g internet and confidence in government." The Quarterly Journal of Economics 136.4 (2021): 2533-2613.