Centre for Studies in Science Policy
Jawaharlal Nehru University
CSSP Wednesday Lecture Series
Invites you to a Lecture on
"Person, Time, and Space for Policy Planning: Linkages between Night-time Luminosity and Socioeconomic Development in India"
By
Sambuddha Goswami
(Research Officer, NITI Aayog, New Delhi)
Venue: Room No. 227, 2nd Floor, CSSP, SSS-1 Building, JNU
Date: Wednesday, 20th July 2022 | Time: 11:30 am
Abstract: As Earth’s population continues to grow, remote sensing data offer a view from space of human behaviours, whether from changing the landscape through the geographical distribution of population and economic activity, deforestation and urbanization, the extent of physical as well as financial infrastructure development or modifying air quality through increases in pollutants. Remote sensing of night-time light emissions offers a unique perspective for investigations into some of these human behaviours. Night-light data are basically the visible lights emanating from the earth captured by satellites from outer space. The satellite image, which provides the brightness of the earth during the night, is now used by many economists/policymakers around the world to study economic activities; since such data by the statistics divisions often come with a lag. Several studies found that ‘Night-time luminosity’ can shed light on economic growth by analysing the causality and correlation with important economic activity and socio-economic indicators. Data on ‘night-time luminosity’ gathered by satellites potentially be a useful high-frequency indicator of economic activity in India and this data has the advantage of being highly granular and is also available much faster than the lagged indicators. Since this data is available in time series it can track both trend and seasonal variations in the economy. Night-light data can be a useful source of information for valuable macroeconomic analysis and research in India. Primary objective of this exercise is to study the association between night-time lights and socio-economic development in India at the State, sub-state, and district levels to help economic policy planning.
About the Speaker: Sambuddha has more than 13 years of experience in Research and Data Analytics with the application of various Statistical Methods, Econometrics Modelling, Data Science Techniques like Machine Learning and Deep Learning algorithms, Artificial Intelligence driven Modelling to develop Descriptive, Predictive, and Prescriptive analysis for incorporation into strategic decision-making both in Private and Public sectors. He has several publications to his credit which include books, book chapters, peer reviewed national and international journal articles and international major project reports in the areas of structural transformation, productivity growth, food and nutrition security, agriculture, fourth industrial revolution, poverty, health, global public goods, public policy, external assistance/ development aid and partnerships. Prior to joining, he served as Senior Manager (Data Science and Analytics) at Genpact and Data Scientist Consultant at American Express (through DAASLabs). He also served as Consultant at the Agricultural Development Economics Division (FAO Statistics Division) on Measuring Food and Nutrition Security of the Food Security Information Network (FSIN) of FAO, WFP, IFPRI; and Consultant at World Bank on the National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP) in India. Recently he co-authored a Book “Food for All: International Organizations and the Transformation of Agriculture”, Oxford, UK. He completed M.A. in Economics (Delhi School of Economics, Delhi); and B.A. in Economics (Jadavpur University, West Bengal).
All are welcome to attend the Lecture.
