How Reliable Are the Rossi-Hansberg and Zhang (2025) Data for Bolivia?
In this post, I evaluate the quality of the new granular GDP estimates by Rossi-Hansberg & Zhang (2025), comparing them with official data from the Bolivian National Statistics Institute (INE). At the national level, the differences are below 1%, and although there are larger gaps at the departmental level—particularly in cases like Cochabamba or Santa Cruz—the estimates have improved over time. The results are promising for subnational research in Bolivia.
Apr 7, 2025
New Municipal-Level GDP Estimates for Bolivia
Researchers Rossi-Hansberg & Zhang (2025) from the Becker Friedman Institute have estimated GDP and per capita income at the subnational level worldwide from 2012 to 2021 using machine learning techniques and high-resolution data. This tool represents a key advancement for developing countries like Bolivia, where lack of data hampers policy evaluation. Applying this data at the municipal level reveals important patterns in income distribution, especially in border and urban regions. These estimates open the door to more precise research and better-informed public policy decisions.
Apr 2, 2025