Abstract

Past studies of the relationships between economic activity and geography have been hampered by limited spatial data on economic activity. This study presents revised data on global economic activity, the G-Econ database, which measures economic activity for the entire globe, measured at a 1° latitude by 1° longitude scale. The methodologies for the study are described. We show several graphical applications, including an "output globe." The study shows the location of economic deserts. The study indicates the importance of geophysical variables for Africa and questions whether the importance of latitude in economic-growth studies in fact reflects geophysical variables.